For Carlsbad Unified staff & schools
Technology grant information
The campaign put money directly into teachers’ hands. Here is how the grant program worked, who could apply, and what the Foundation looked for in a proposal.
Why grants instead of a central purchase
Kids Are Worth A Million is a community-wide effort to bring needed technology to the students of the Carlsbad Unified School District. The Foundation’s grant program asks the people closest to students — teachers, departments, and school teams — to say exactly what would change learning in their rooms.
That approach funds specific, testable ideas instead of generic hardware, and it builds a record of what actually worked.
Who may apply
Applications were received from individuals, teams, or whole schools at any Carlsbad Unified School District school. Every application had to be reviewed and signed by the principal, with the assurances noted on the form.
What reviewers looked for
Proposals were judged on whether the project:
- supports, enhances, or enriches the curriculum;
- expands the use of technology through new and innovative applications, uses, and projects;
- gives a wide range of students the opportunity to use technology;
- shows insight and creativity in using technology to improve student learning.
What a strong application included
- A thoroughly and thoughtfully completed form that addresses every item.
- A typed submission — handwritten applications were not accepted.
- A clear statement of the type and quantity of equipment needed.
- A detailed explanation of how the technology would deepen students’ understanding of a subject and improve their educational experience.
- Specific numbers: how many students would use the technology directly, and how often.
How funding decisions were made
Final funding decisions rested solely with the Carlsbad Educational Foundation, which could also set conditions and limitations on any award. A request might be partially funded, so applicants were asked to prioritise their needs.
In accepting a grant, the grantee, the school, and the district agreed — within the limits set by rights of privacy — to provide access and documentation to the Foundation for evaluation and promotional purposes.
Timeline
| Step | Date | What happened |
|---|---|---|
| Guidelines published | Spring 2001 | Criteria and the printable application were made available to CUSD staff and on this site. |
| Applications due | Postmarked Friday, March 23, 2001 | Nine typed copies mailed to the Foundation. Later postmarks might not have been considered. |
| Review | Late March – April 2001 | The Foundation reviewed proposals and set award conditions. |
| Notification | By April 23, 2001 | Principals were notified in writing about approved grants. |
How to use this page today
The program described here is the Spring 2001 cycle, kept as a complete record of how the campaign distributed money. Teachers and districts building similar programs can reuse the criteria and the application structure.