Educators for the 21st Century

The Educators for the 21st Century competitive grant program, (formerly known as the Washington Higher Education Improving Teacher Quality grant program) provides partnership grants for professional development projects serving K-12 educators. 

The Washington Student Achievement Council administers the program, which is federally funded under Title II of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001.  Between 2002 and 2012, the Council and its predecessor, the Higher Education Coordinating Board, awarded grants to 41 projects.
 

Grant Opportunity

The Council has issued a request for proposals to provide professional development to K-12 educators with the ultimate goal of increasing student academic achievement in core subject areas.  Under the program, the Council awards grant funds to K-12-higher education partnerships through a competitive request for proposals process, working with the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction to ensure alignment with other professional development activities in Washington.  

Projects funded under the program will focus on providing professional learning to K-12 educators to support implementation of the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) for Mathematics and/or the Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts & Literacy in History/Social Studies, Science, and Technical Subjects.  The professional development is designed to help teachers and highly qualified paraprofessionals deepen their subject matter knowledge and use state academic content standards to teach more effectively; and to help principals enhance instructional leadership skills. 

Download the Request For Proposals (Revised April 23, 2013)

 - Revisions to the Request For Proposals (4/23/2013)

REQUIRED NOTICE OF INTENT TO APPLY DUE DATE:  April 9, 2013 – 5:00 p.m., Pacific Daylight Time, Olympia, Washington.  Only emailed notices will be accepted.

PROPOSAL DUE DATE:  May 6, 2013 – 5:00 p.m., Pacific Daylight Time, Olympia, Washington.  Only emailed proposals will be accepted.

TOTAL FUNDING: Approximately $1.2 million (100 percent federal and 0 percent from other sources) for projects serving school districts located within educational service districts 105, 112, 113, 121, 123, and 171.

 

Current Projects (2012-2015)

The Council is collaborating with the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) to administer two professional development projects designed to help 6th-12th grade educators implement the Common Core State Standards and the state's science standards (in conjunction with the Framework for K-12 Science Education):

• Eastern Washington University – Riverpoint Advanced Mathematics Partnership – Algebra (RAMP-A)
• Western Washington University – The Whole School Success Partnership (TWSSP)

Total funding (100 percent federal and 0 percent from other sources) for these two projects is about $1.7 million.
 

Reports and Events

• 2011 Report: College-Ready Students and Classroom-Ready Teachers
• 2011 Update: Educators for the 21st Century Program and Student College Readiness
• 2010 Educators for the 21st Century - October 2010 Conference Materials
  In October 2010, the HECB hosted a statewide conference bringing together K-12 and college educators, administrators, and others to help chart a course for future professional development efforts.
• 2010 Title II - Improving Teacher Quality Program Review
• 2008 Title II - Improving Teacher Quality Program Review
• 2007 Title II - Improving Teacher Quality Program Update
• 2005 Report - The Impact of the Washington State Title II Improving Teacher Quality Professional Development Program on Changes in Teachers’ Practices and in Students’ Achievement

   

  Federal Rules and Guidelines

  For the federal rules governing the grants:
  No Child Left Behind Act (See Title II Part A Subpart 3 and, for the 2012-15 joint Council-OSPI projects only, Title II part B).

  For guidance on the federal rules:
  U.S. Department of Education - No Child Left Behind Act Title II Part A Non-Regulatory Guidance

   

  Contact Information
  Mark Bergeson
  Phone:  360-753-7881
  Email: Markb@wsac.wa.gov