GRANTS
Since 1992, The Foundation for Rock Hill Schools has awarded over 1.3 MILLION DOLLARS to District educators through grant funding. On average, educators spend $750 annually of their own money to fund classroom needs. Likewise, over 44% of schools nationally are experiencing a teacher shortage, and 55% of educators have considered leaving the profession. Perhaps now more than ever, educators need to feel supported by their communities and to have opportunities that enhance their classroom environments.
Types of Grants
Regular Cycle
Regular cycle grants are available twice each school year. Awards are announced shortly after each application cycle. Regular Cycle Grant Funding is ideal for planned projects and initiatives that enhance the educational experience but are not time-sensitive. The regular cycle application will re-open for the second grant cycle in January of 2025.
Critical Needs
Critical needs requests are for urgent situations requiring immediate attention. A critical need is defined as a scenario where, without funding within the next two weeks, significant hardship would impact students, staff, or the community of Rock Hill Schools. Funding for critical needs is awarded as quickly as possible, typically within two weeks.
THE GRANT PROCESS
For critical needs requests, the process is designed to be quick and efficient. Once a request is submitted, it is immediately reviewed by the Director of Grants to ensure compliance with school district policies. If the request meets all necessary criteria, it is then forwarded to the members of the Educator Grants Committee, who are on the Board of Directors. These individuals review the request quickly and reply with a simple yes or no. If the grant receives majority approval it is immediately funded, ensuring that urgent needs are met in a timely manner to prevent any undue hardship on students, staff, or the community.
The process for regular cycle grants is more comprehensive and involves several stages as these request are typicaly larger. After a grant application is submitted, it first undergoes a policy compliance review by the Director of Educator Grants, similar to the critical needs request. Once it passes this initial check, the application is held until the cycle’s deadline. At this point, all applications are released for evaluation by the grant evaluation committee, which consists of 6-15 individuals who represent the Rock Hill Schools community, including at least three foundation board members. Each application is scored on a 0-100 scale based on a detailed rubric. To qualify for funding, an application must receive an average score of 80% or higher. This process ensures that the most impactful projects receive the support they need to enhance education in our district.
Recent Grants
Quail Eggs & Outdoor Classroom
Educators at Saluda Trail Middle School teamed up to raise live quail to help students engage with life cycles and creature care. The same educators also built and continue to maintain a complex garden where students are proud to share their assigned jobs and show off the fruits of their labor.
Sensory Aids Grant
Students at South Pointe High Schools who struggle with sensory management were provided various tools to help them cope when feeling overwhelmed or unsure of their next step. These items also aided students in a field study at Miracle Park.
Earth Keepers Grant
Students at South Pointe High Schools who struggle with sensory management were provided various tools to help them cope when feeling overwhelmed or unsure of their next step. These items also aided students in a field study at Miracle Park.
Dragon Boat Race
Students at Northwestern High School were able to attend Charlotte’s Dragon Boat Race and Asian Festival to gain hands-on cultural experience. Their team placed 13th out of 47 teams in the novice division, and they were the first team to ever compete from Rock Hill.
Help support the grants that empower our educators to create impactful and innovative learning experiences. By clicking the “Invest Now” button below, you can help fund projects and resources that enhance the educational environment for students in Rock Hill Schools.