Wisconsin Schools of Recognition Spotlight Schools Grant Program

Spotlight Schools Grant Program

Spotlight Schools is a competitive grant program for 2011-12 Wisconsin Schools of Recognition that have received the award for the last three (or more) consecutive years. Spotlight Schools are selected based on the school’s documented success in two spotlighted areas including Teaching and Learning and one of the following: Vision, Leadership and Governance, Decision Making and Accountability, Professional Development and Teacher Quality, and Family, School, and Community Partnerships.

In order to build on the success of the Spotlight Schools program, two opportunities will be available to schools for the 2012-13 school year.

Spotlight Schools Continuation Grants
Grants of $25,000 will be awarded to four or five Spotlight Schools from 2011-12 to provide funding to host visiting schools and to continue to build the school’s capacity to become increasingly more effective in the spotlight practice areas. Guidelines for the continuation grants and application materials are available on the Spotlight Schools Forms page.

NEW Spotlight Schools Grants
Four to five new schools will be designated Spotlight Schools for the 2012-13 year. Schools selected as Spotlight Schools are required to host at least three schools on a one-day visit to observe classrooms and discuss spotlighted practices with staff. The remaining grant funds, which are a reward to the school, can be used for professional development or other school improvement opportunities to continue to improve current school practices. Each applicant must address Teaching and Learning and one other component in which they are achieving success in order to be considered for funding. Applicants must submit evidence as outlined in the rubric. Guidelines for the new grants and application materials are available on the Spotlight Schools Forms page.

Applications for both grants are due April 27, 2012.

Spotlight Schools 2011-12

Eight grantees with a total of 12 schools were selected to participate in the Spotlight Schools program. General information on each grantee’s spotlighted practices is available from the Spotlighted Practice Summaries document. For detailed information on each school, their spotlighted practices, and their contact information for setting up school visits, please visit each school through the links below.

Appleton Area School District

Edison Elementary

Horizons Elementary

School District of Beloit