As a young girl I was crazy about Barbie Dolls. I still have them stashed in my parents’ attic. I gave my imagination quite a workout while playing with those toys. To me, Mattel was a very magic company and I owe it a lot of happy hours in my youth. It is no wonder Mattel has continued to make kids happy by providing grants to United States organizations that benefit children.

This week’s pick: Mattel (http://www.mattel.com) and the Mattel Children's Foundation have a domestic grant program that directly supports children. To be eligible, organizations must be a child-serving 501 © 3 non-profit impacting children in need. Main areas of concentration are:

• Learning
• Health
• Girl Empowerment

Applications for program and operating support will be considered. Awards range from $5,000 to $25,000 and the deadline for this grant is July 15, 2008. To see the criteria and application form visit the Mattel web site.

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I recently read a Education Week article discussing new efforts schools have been trying to make to reduce teacher absences. The article states that research papers from economists at Harvard University and Duke University have argued that teacher absences harm student achievement. Consequently, education experts and administrators have experimented and debated policies to attempt to reduce teacher absences.

The research papers of the Harvard and Duke economists argue that teacher absences have a small but significant effect on student achievement as shown by test results. The economists also point to previous research that suggests ways of reducing teacher absences. For example, the economists note that the more generous leave provisions are the more days on average are taken. They also say that it is worth considering incentive plans that reward exceptional attendance or pay teachers for earned leave they do not take. Another approach the economists propose is to require teachers to report time off directly to their principal, rather to the central office or the answering machine.

In addition to proposed approaches, the article describes new efforts by schools to monitor teacher attendance, such as improved tracking of absences and principals’ emphasis on teacher attendance. However, these efforts have limited data to measure their effectiveness.

While the studies do provide compelling evidence that teacher absences probably do harm student achievement, the degree of harm is unclear. In my opinion, a broader based assessment could incorporate teacher attendance, other measures of teach effectiveness and other societal factors that influence student achievement. Through such an assessment, we can create policies and incentives that would address student achievement through a more holistic approach. What do think about this issue? I would appreciate your views.

Other resources: What makes Education Research “Educational”?
Deborah Loewenberg Ball and Francesca Forzani, Educational Researcher, V36 n9

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I had the good fortune to meet Karen Anderson a couple years ago at the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits Conference in Saint Paul. At that time, she was working on launching her new website, the NonprofitRFPExchange. It was exciting to hear about all the ideas she had for creating a helpful resource for nonprofits.

Her site is currently up and running and I encourage you to take a look. The NonprofitRFPExchange not only offers nonprofit organizations a place where they “can get more bids, gather more resumes, and facilitate the funding process on one website,” but also has information for grantmakers, businesses, job seekers and volunteers. The Exchange assists non-profits and other businesses to make mutually beneficial connections regarding goods and services. Posting information on the site is free for non-profits and other tax-exempt organizations. If you would like to learn more please go to: http://www.NonprofitRFPExchange.com.

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The Improve Group treasures its relationship with the arts community. Among the staff who work here, some of us are performers; some are strictly audience members; but all of us appreciate the gifts the arts bring to our lives. Just this month Marian will be performing in a play, Leah’s daughter was in a mermaid in a youth performance and my youngest son and I attended his first big, professional theater production in downtown Minneapolis. We are fortunate that our state is rich with cultural, artistic venues. My pick this week is an opportunity to share our arts/culture and make positive connections to what inspires people in other countries.

This week’s pick: The Cultural Programs Division of the Office of Citizen Exchanges, in the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) is presenting the 2008 Arts Exchanges on International Issues Program, an “open competition for grants to implement programs that utilize the arts to engage civil society - particularly youth and diverse and underserved populations - and that foster linkages and build partnerships between U.S. and overseas non-profit arts and cultural organizations, and local communities.” (Funding Opportunity Number: ECA/PE/C/CU-08-43)

ECA is particularly interested in projects in: Bolivia, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, Guatemala, Peru and Nicaragua.
Projects should be aimed at opening dialogues, countering negative perceptions, developing leadership and professionalism and involve key international arts and/or cultural issues. Grants will range between $200,000 and $600,000. The application must be submitted by May 22nd through Grants.gov.

Among those eligible to apply are:
• Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
• Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
• Private institutions of higher education

Please note there are two specific project themes for which you can apply. Click masks to learn more:

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Chicago Opera Theater's Opera for All program brings professional performers into K-12 Chicago classrooms for a rigorous opera experience tied to the Theater's premier performance of the season. This year, Chicago Opera Theater is debuting a new opera called A Flowering Tree. Each class learned about the opera itself, as well as musical concepts, culture and the arts and the history and context of opera as an art form. Each class has a culminating performance -- with student responsibilities including writing, performing, directing, and set and costume design.

One high school class recently performed Pirates of Penzance, one of Leah's favorite operas as a kid. We've had the pleasure of working with the Opera for All program to design an evaluation that helped to better define the program's goals and outcomes.

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You can do it as two,
You can gather a crew,
You may do what you can,
If you just have a plan.

It will help out the air, water, wildlife and earth,
It will show Mother Nature you know what she’s worth.

(I love Dr. Seuss and I am so glad his writing is still getting kids excited about doing something good for the environment).

This week’s pick: Dr. Seuss Enterprises and Youth Venture in a partnership with Earth Island Institute are offering The Lorax Challenge. The Lorax, as most people know, is a wonderful character created by Dr. Seuss to help warn the world of the dangers of over-industrialization and misuse of natural resources.

This opportunity asks people ages 12 to 20 to submit action plans for earth-saving ideas. To be eligible for the Lorax Grant “a venture team must be youth-created, -led, and -managed; be community-benefiting; be structured as a lasting organization; involve a strong team with clear, attainable goals and budget and the commitment to lead their venture; and have at least one "Ally" — a supportive adult who guides and encourages the team.”

You can submit your application online and teams that are chosen will receive up to $1,000 each to make their dreams a reality. Five grand prize (high school-age) winners will be given a trip to the University of Florida for a weekend of fun and learning.

Deadline for submission, May 31, two-oh-oh-eight,
So get your mind moving, be fast don’t be late!
You’ll help save something wonderful from a very bad fate,
And best thing of all, it will make you feel great!

(My apologies to Theodor Geisel).

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Providing a good education for all seems to be on everyone’s mind these days. If you are interested in this topic here is some helpful information.

First, be sure to read the April 2008 issue of the Improve Groove Newsletter coming out next week. In this issue, staff member Eric Wong has a great article on test-based accountability in schools.

I also want to share this link to a report called Cities in Crisis: A Special Analytical Report on High School Graduation by the Editorial Projects in Education Resource Center supported by the America’s Promise Alliance and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. This report gives a geographically-informed look at high school completion concentrating on America’s largest cities and their surrounding metropolitan areas. The analysis looks at the 2003-2004 school year. One very uncomfortable conclusion in this study is that 3 out of every 10 students in our nation are failing to graduate. To read the full report, please click here.

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Okay, we admit it; we will miss the old Improve Group Office location that gave us easy shopping access to the Mall of America. Those staff members among us will who could take advantage of the light rail system will miss the quiet commute. However, like all good evaluators we realize it is good to look to the future and embrace change.

Some of our children came by to lend a hand in moving but got distracted by the exercise ball at Liz’s desk. After a few days of dusty, high-spirited packing we left the office space on Killebrew Drive and moved to our new home on the corner of Mendota Heights Road and Pilot Knob Road where we are settling in very nicely.

Much like the story of the 3 Bears our office space in Eagan was too small, our office space in Bloomington was too big, but this one is just right. We have found a location with easy access from many major roadways (Hwy 110, I-35E, 13), a great conference room, free parking and a good spot for our IG Footnotes walking group to re-start their afternoon exercise breaks outdoors (if the weather ever permits).

Please feel free to stop by and visit our new digs or take a tour when you attend one of our Brown Bag sessions. The new address is 1385 Mendota Heights Rd, Suite 200B, Mendota Heights, MN 55120. The entrance to the Improve Group is located on the right (east) side of the building.

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Today I have a very worthy federal grant opportunity which is aimed at increasing employment for people living with disabilities. Whether it is for you, family members or friends it is imperative that anyone who has challenges in their lives also has equal opportunities to succeed.

This week’s pick: The Projects with Industry Program (PWI) through the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services, asks private industry to partner with organizations in expanding competitive work opportunities for those with disabilities. A high priority will be given to applicants from faith-based and community organizations.

Awards range from $250,000 to $350,000. Those who are granted funds will need to establish a Business Advisory Council, identify jobs and the skills needed to perform them and develop training, placement and support programs for the target community. Deadline to submit an application is May 27th. More on this grant can be found by clicking here.

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I was gazing through the Federal grants today and it struck me how much evaluation continues to grow in importance as an integral part of the proposal process. With fewer government dollars being spread among an increasing need for services and assistance, the requirement for accountability grows. It is important to make the case for how well your organization will track the use of the funds long before a contract is ever struck. The following is a perfect example of a request asking for evaluation planning from the start in order to best qualify for the grant.

This week’s pick: The Department of Health and Human Services is granting funds for the 2008 Adolescent Family Life (AFL) Demonstration Program (CDFA #93995 and Funding Opportunity # PA-APH-08-021). “These grants are for projects to develop, implement and evaluate a multi-site primary abstinence education program targeting youth ages 12-18, as compared with a multi-site “enriched” program model.” Any public, private or nonprofit organization is eligible to apply and successful applicants will dedicate 20-25% of the Federal portion of the budget for evaluation activities. The award floor is $600,000 with a ceiling of $800,000. Funds are available for 4-5 projects.

The electronic grant application must be submitted by 11:00 am Eastern Time on June 11, 2008; mailed applications by 5:00 pm the same day. The Improve Group would be interested in providing evlaution services and working with organizations interested in applying. We are available to assist in writing the evaluation portion of the grant application. For more information on this grant, click here.

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This morning, we heard a familiar voice on Minnesota Public Radio! Our client, Judy Schoenberg of Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA), was a guest on the Midmorning program. She spoke about leadership and self-esteem development in girls and how Girl Scouting has changed throughout the years.

At the Improve Group, we love working with the Girl Scouts to uncover how their programs help girls. Leah called in to the program to share some information from our evaluations with GSUSA.

For a podcast of today’s program, click here.

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