Apply today for the 2024/2025 Climate Education Professional Development Grant! Due May 3rd.
Click Here for the RFA, Q&A Summary, and Any Amendments
Accessing the RFA: Please click on the link above to find the list of grants from the Division of Procurement Services. Scroll or search for the Climate Education Professional Development Grant. Click on the title of the grant to access the RFA itself. To access the application, which is linked within the document, please download the document and open in Word or upload the docx file to your Google Drive and open as a Google Doc.
Funds:
Overview of the Program:
Maine 130th legislature passed a resolve, sponsored by Representative Blume of York and Senator Breen of Cumberland, to create a pilot program to encourage climate education in Maine's schools.
This pilot program will be awarding grants for high-quality professional development designed and carried out in partnership with community-based nonprofit organizations. Grant awards will be accessible to all local education providers throughout the state for Pre K through grade 12. The program will be giving priority to applications that:
- Serve historically underserved by climate education communities;
- Are first-time applicants to the program.
Eligible Applicants:
- A school administrative unit as described in 20-A M.R.S.A §1, 26,
- A school in an unorganized territory under 20-A M.R.S.A Chapter 119, or
- A CTE Region school/program established under 20-A M.R.S.A. Chapter 313, Subchapter 4 (Applied Technology Education).
- A school funded by the Bureau of Indian Education
Community Partners:
If you are a non-profit organization with a focus on community, climate, the environment, outdoors, and/or education in the state of Maine, you have an amazing and crucial part to play in this program.
- Community Partners will facilitate and provide the professional development.
- Community Partners can reach out to, encourage, and help local education providers apply for this RFA program (*local education providers must submit the application).
- Community Partners can establish lasting partnerships with schools that last beyond the program.
| Program Funds Available |
$1,800,000 |
| Phase II Grant Funds Available |
$750,000 |
| Maximum funds available for a single grant |
$750,000 |
| Applicable Use of Funds |
- Hiring or contracting for program staff;
- Providing stipends or other incentives to teachers, paraprofessionals, retired teachers, and community organizations;
- Developing curricula and related supplies;
- Covering costs associated with renting or purchasing physical space for programming; and
- Paying administrative expenses
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| Non-Applicable Use of Funds |
- Direct instruction by program staff and partner organization in the classroom;
- Construction or infrastructure building of any kind;
- Stipends and substitution costs for the same programming time. The Department will not pay for time that is already part of someone’s job position;
- Food and Beverage unless clearly necessary for program operation, such as overnight programming
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Timeline:
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Phase I
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Programming: February - August, 2024
Media Release: Maine DOE Awards $300,000 in Climate Education Professional Development Grants – Maine DOE Newsroom
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| Phase II |
- Application Window: March 12th - May 3rd, 2024
- Notification of Award: End of May
- Q&A: Due by 11:59 pm March 29th, 2024
- Award Window: July 2024 - June 2025
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| Phase III |
- Application Window: January - March 2025
- Award Window: July 2025 - June 2026
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