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News

Request for Proposals

Social Studies Inquiry Grant (Word Version)

Sponsored by

Fund for the Advancement of Social Studies Education

College and University Faculty Assembly

National Council for the Social Studies

Introduction

The Fund for the Advancement of Social Studies Education (FASSE) and the College and University Faculty Assembly (CUFA) of the National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) have established a grant to support inquiry in citizenship education. Grant proposals should affirm social, cultural, and racial diversity and address issues of equality, equity, and social justice. Proposals that address aims for citizen action are preferred. Proposals should be relevant to school, university or community-based educational settings. FASSE and CUFA will award a $10,000 grant to the successful applicant who presents a proposal for a research project that demonstrates potential to inform the educational field about justice oriented, citizenship education.

General Information

Eligible Applicants

Assistant, Associate or a full professor, or a graduate student with the demonstrated support of a university mentor/advisor. Applicant(s) must be an NCSS member. If a graduate student, then the mentor must also be an NCSS member. Researchers from all groups, including under-represented groups, are encouraged to apply.

Context for Research

Grant activities should either (1) serve student bodies that are socially, culturally, and racially diverse; or (2) involve teachers or prospective teachers who work or will work with diverse student populations. Proposals can address a range of educational levels and settings, from K-12 to collegiate levels, and from school to community settings.

Grant Period

It is anticipated that the grant will be awarded in August of 2008 and grant activities can begin in September of 2008. It is anticipated that funds will support one year of inquiry.

Application Deadline

The original and four (4) copies of the proposal must be post-marked no later than June 30, 2008. No fax or e-mail submissions will be accepted.

Mail Proposals to:

Prema Parmar

National Council for Social Studies

8555 Sixteenth Street Suite 500

Silver Spring, MD 20910

Program Specifications

The recipient of the grant may use funds for the following activities:

• Research assistance, as an assistantship or as hourly pay.
• Research supplies, copying, and mailing.
• Hourly transcription.
• Travel to NCSS annual conference in 2009.
• Collaboration among university, school, and community people, including stipends and meals connected with meetings and pay for substitute teachers (to release teachers during the school day to participate in grant activities).
• Preparing reports (formative and summative) on the results of grant activities.
• Sharing the results of those reports in appropriate local, state, and national venues.
• Supplemental materials for curriculum development and teacher in-service activities

The recipient of the grant may NOT use funds for the following:

• Purchase of equipment, including computer hardware.
• Indirect costs.

Proposal Format

The proposal should be submitted in the format outlined below. Use this checklist to assemble the completed proposal. Incomplete proposals will not be considered. The text of the proposal should not exceed ten pages. A cover page, budget, timeline, and curriculum vitae should be attached.

• Cover page: Title of proposal, Name(s) of applicants, address of institution, including e-mail address. Signature of applicant and appropriate officials indicating approval of proposal’s contents.
• Abstract: The abstract should include a summary focusing on aims, research questions, methodology, and potential findings. Abstract should not exceed 200 words.
• Text: The text should include the following information: rationale, aims, research questions, relevant scholarly literature, conceptual and/or theoretical framework, methodology, potential findings, and significance to the educational field. The narrative should also include a personal statement that links this inquiry to other research interests and/or previous studies of the applicant(s).
• Budget: List anticipated costs for personnel, travel, and supplies. In kind contributions by the institution should be indicated.
• Timeline: Show the intended progress of the research.
• Vitae: Include curriculum vitae of applicant(s) and other key personnel.
• Letters of support: Include letters of support from Departmental Chair, doctoral advisor, and/or other educational officials or community representatives, as relevant to the proposal (no more than five letters please).

Criteria for Review of Proposals (100)

The proposal funded will show evidence of the following:

• Compelling rationale. (5)
• Significant aims. (5)
• Researchable questions. (10)
• Relevant literature (10)
• Conceptual framework (10)
• Sound methodology. (10)
• Potential to inform the educational field about justice-oriented, citizenship education. (10)
• Personal statement (10)
• Addresses: issues of cultural diversity and diverse populations. (5)
• Attention to equality, equity, and social justice. (5)
• Attention to citizen action. (5)
• Budget (5)
• Timeline (5)
• Vitally interesting, creative, or novel inquiry. (5)

Terms of the Award:

The $10,000 will be awarded in two installments: $7500 and $2500. Upon approval of the proposal, NCSS will forward a check in the amount of $7,500 to a research account at the sponsoring institution with the stipulation that an interim report will be submitted at the end of the first six months. Project adjustments may be recommended by the Project Monitoring Team (composed of representatives of FASSE and CUFA) after this first report. When this report is approved and any recommended adjustments have been made, a check in the amount of $2500 will be forwarded with the stipulation that a final report including presentation at CUFA and/or NCSS annual conference and submission of a manuscript for publication will be necessary.

• A paper must be presented about the inquiry at the 2009 or 2010 meeting of the College and University Faculty Assembly (CUFA) and/or at the NCSS conference. A presentation slot at the NCSS conference will be reserved for the award recipient.

• A manuscript should be submitted for publication in a juried, blind review journal within one year after the end of the grant period.

Proposal Review Process

The FASSE and CUFA Chairs will appoint a proposal review committee to review proposals and recommend the award recipient. It is anticipated that results of the review process will be communicated by mail by August 15, 2008. The FASSE and CUFA Board are ultimately responsible for the review and selection process.