Innovative Learning Grants (ILG) ask educators to provide a learning experience that motivates and actively engages students and helps them achieve academic excellence that aligns with standards that can be replicated at other schools.
The ILG supports innovative and creative approaches to education in support of the learning goals for Rockingham County Public School by helping all learners to become Critical Thinkers, Communicators, Collaborators, Creators and Good Citizens (5 C’s).
All RCPS employees are eligible to apply. It is permissible to apply for grants previously funded, especially if those projects can be improved upon or enhanced by additional funding. ILG applications will be evaluated on several criteria, including the extent to which the project enriches the educational experience, challenges students, shows creativity and innovation, has realistic objectives, and reaches a significant number of students.
List of 2024-2025 Innovative Learning Grants recipients and their projects can be found here.
The ILG supports innovative and creative approaches to education in support of the learning goals for Rockingham County Public School by helping all learners to become Critical Thinkers, Communicators, Collaborators, Creators and Good Citizens (5 C’s).
All RCPS employees are eligible to apply. It is permissible to apply for grants previously funded, especially if those projects can be improved upon or enhanced by additional funding. ILG applications will be evaluated on several criteria, including the extent to which the project enriches the educational experience, challenges students, shows creativity and innovation, has realistic objectives, and reaches a significant number of students.
List of 2024-2025 Innovative Learning Grants recipients and their projects can be found here.
Timeline:
September 19, 2025 - Innovative Learning Grants Application Opens
October 20, 2025 - Innovative Learning Grants Application Closes at 9pm
October 22, 2025 - Deadline for Leadership Digital Signatures
Week of November 10 - Applicants Notified
September 19, 2025 - Innovative Learning Grants Application Opens
October 20, 2025 - Innovative Learning Grants Application Closes at 9pm
October 22, 2025 - Deadline for Leadership Digital Signatures
Week of November 10 - Applicants Notified
Requirements:
Abstract: provide a brief description of your proposal that does NOT include your school name; summarize the plan you propose, and the challenge it addresses (50 word max typed into online application)
Project Title & Description: Description of the results you hope to achieve. (300 word max typed into online application)
Outcome and measures: Briefly explain the desired outcomes and if you have a plan to measure the outcomes
Submission Type: ILG Award amounts will vary based on the type of submission
Collaboration - up to $5,000
A maximum amount of $5,000 will be awarded to a school that is partnering with an additional school(s) in RCPS. This can be 2-3 elementary schools, an elementary school, and middle school, middle and high school, etc.
School-wide - up to $3,000
A maximum amount of $3,000 will be awarded to an entire school that is working together on an Innovative Learning Grant.
Community Partner - up to $2,000
A maximum amount of $2,000 will be awarded to an individual who is receiving substantial support from an identified community partner (financial, in-kind, collaboration, volunteerism, etc.).
Individual - $100-$1,000
Requests between $100 and $1,000 will be awarded to an individual(s) submitting an acceptable Innovative Learning Grant.
Budget: Create and provide a detailed budget outlining how the requested funds would be spent. Providing links or examples of items, software, materials can be helpful. Feel free to include brief explanation if necessary to help reviewer understand the necessity of any budget line items.
ILG Award amounts will vary based on the type of submission. Budget items may include but are not limited to instructional materials/supplies, software, admission fees, transportation costs, recognition, guest speakers/presentation fees; teacher/staff development, etc. Projects proposing matching funds from other sources require that information to be communicated.
Funding will NOT be provided for the following:
Leadership Digital Signatures: The principal/supervisor are required to sign the proposal. All applications originating from a school must have the principal’s signature. If you are collaborating with another school(s), all principals must sign the application. Leadership Digital Signatures have an extended deadline and must be completed by October 17th.
Abstract: provide a brief description of your proposal that does NOT include your school name; summarize the plan you propose, and the challenge it addresses (50 word max typed into online application)
Project Title & Description: Description of the results you hope to achieve. (300 word max typed into online application)
Outcome and measures: Briefly explain the desired outcomes and if you have a plan to measure the outcomes
Submission Type: ILG Award amounts will vary based on the type of submission
Collaboration - up to $5,000
A maximum amount of $5,000 will be awarded to a school that is partnering with an additional school(s) in RCPS. This can be 2-3 elementary schools, an elementary school, and middle school, middle and high school, etc.
School-wide - up to $3,000
A maximum amount of $3,000 will be awarded to an entire school that is working together on an Innovative Learning Grant.
Community Partner - up to $2,000
A maximum amount of $2,000 will be awarded to an individual who is receiving substantial support from an identified community partner (financial, in-kind, collaboration, volunteerism, etc.).
Individual - $100-$1,000
Requests between $100 and $1,000 will be awarded to an individual(s) submitting an acceptable Innovative Learning Grant.
Budget: Create and provide a detailed budget outlining how the requested funds would be spent. Providing links or examples of items, software, materials can be helpful. Feel free to include brief explanation if necessary to help reviewer understand the necessity of any budget line items.
ILG Award amounts will vary based on the type of submission. Budget items may include but are not limited to instructional materials/supplies, software, admission fees, transportation costs, recognition, guest speakers/presentation fees; teacher/staff development, etc. Projects proposing matching funds from other sources require that information to be communicated.
Funding will NOT be provided for the following:
- Food in classrooms for parties, rewards, or students in need
- T-shirts
- Technology devices already provided by RCPS
Leadership Digital Signatures: The principal/supervisor are required to sign the proposal. All applications originating from a school must have the principal’s signature. If you are collaborating with another school(s), all principals must sign the application. Leadership Digital Signatures have an extended deadline and must be completed by October 17th.
What Evaluators are looking for in your application:
(2,3 & 4 will count towards 75% of the evaluation)
Project title and abstract
• Does the title clearly match the description?
• Has the applicant briefly described the project in the abstract?
Narrative (project description)
• Does the project provide a learning experience/opportunity that students would otherwise not receive?
• Is the project high impact, involving a lot of students, or one that could be duplicated across the district so that it would impact a greater number of students?
• Does the applicant explain how the project enhances the current curriculum?
• Does the applicant explain how the project meets school division learning objectives (5 C’s)?
• How many disciplines are used in the project? Does the applicant describe how the project will impact the different disciplines?
• Does the project sound like an engaging learning experience?
• Has the submission type been identified? (Collaboration, School-wide, Community Partner, or Individual).
Outcome and measures
• Does the applicant explain the outcomes?
• Does the applicant have a plan to measure the outcomes?
• Are the outcomes realistic?
Itemized budget
• Has the applicant provided an itemized budget as requested?
• Are the expenses reasonable and accurate?
• Is there an expense that is included that could be found in the Teacher Supply Depot?
Timeline
• Is the timeline reasonable?
• Has the applicant planned an adequate introduction and follow-up for the project?
Funding will NOT be provided for the following:
-Food in classrooms for parties, rewards, or students in need
-T-shirts
-Technology devices already provided by RCPS
(2,3 & 4 will count towards 75% of the evaluation)
Project title and abstract
• Does the title clearly match the description?
• Has the applicant briefly described the project in the abstract?
Narrative (project description)
• Does the project provide a learning experience/opportunity that students would otherwise not receive?
• Is the project high impact, involving a lot of students, or one that could be duplicated across the district so that it would impact a greater number of students?
• Does the applicant explain how the project enhances the current curriculum?
• Does the applicant explain how the project meets school division learning objectives (5 C’s)?
• How many disciplines are used in the project? Does the applicant describe how the project will impact the different disciplines?
• Does the project sound like an engaging learning experience?
• Has the submission type been identified? (Collaboration, School-wide, Community Partner, or Individual).
Outcome and measures
• Does the applicant explain the outcomes?
• Does the applicant have a plan to measure the outcomes?
• Are the outcomes realistic?
Itemized budget
• Has the applicant provided an itemized budget as requested?
• Are the expenses reasonable and accurate?
• Is there an expense that is included that could be found in the Teacher Supply Depot?
Timeline
• Is the timeline reasonable?
• Has the applicant planned an adequate introduction and follow-up for the project?
Funding will NOT be provided for the following:
-Food in classrooms for parties, rewards, or students in need
-T-shirts
-Technology devices already provided by RCPS
Please note: Remember to save your work in your application. If you need to exit the program to obtain additional documentation, there is a gray "save" button at the bottom left-hand side of the application. If you have any problems with the application, please contact us at [email protected] or call (540) 564-3218.
