2025-2026 Classroom Innovation Grants

The Special Education Foundation (SEF) realizes a teacher’s budget is limited. So, each year, SEF provides SSD teachers and teacher-level staff with funds to implement innovative educational projects that tax dollars are unable to support.

Please complete all the items on the application by the submission deadline to be considered for a Classroom Innovation Grant for the 2025-2026 school year. In order to be eligible, you must ensure that your project cannot be funded by the Special School District using tax dollars. In addition, you must be a teacher or teacher-level staff member employed by the Special School District of St. Louis County. Read the Helpful Hints for Applying before you start your application help clarify the information we need. 

Guidelines :

• Selection is based on a 24 point system.
• Funding availability or SEF's committee discretion may result in partial funding.
• The Grant will not provide funding for: transportation, standard textbooks, curriculum, conference attendance, training, or programs that are duplications of existing special education or technical programs.
• Only two grants per teacher (including as a co-applicant) will be accepted.
• The maximum award amount is $1,500.
• Feedback forms must be completed if you were a previous recipient to be eligible to apply. 
• Area Coordinators/Principals MUST verify that your project cannot be funded before applying.  
• Submission of an application does not guarantee funding.
• Projects approved from prior years are no longer “renewed,” nor does prior approval guarantee future approval. Because we receive new applicants each year with new project ideas and have limited funds, all projects are considered “new” each year and are awarded based on the points received and how they will benefit the students.
   

 24 Point System:

• Creativity and Innovation……………………...  one to three points
• Project Description………………………………..  one to three points
• Itemized Budget…………………………………....  one to three points
• Preparation Identified…………………………….  zero to five points
• Evaluation Method………………………………..   zero to five points
• Research Support…………………………………   zero to five points
• Completed Feedback Form from Prior Year….. YES / NO / NA (N/A is for new applicants only)
• Project is verified/approved that a supervisor, SSD coordinator, principal or PTO cannot fund your project YES / NO (proof of signature/noted verification is required to upload)

Questions? Contact SEF at 314-394-7036 or email info@sef-stl.org

Submittable Information for Applying:

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