MathWays for Early Learning's ultimate goal is to give children the opportunity to have future STEM success by giving families tools to support building foundational math concepts at home. If kids embrace math and build math confidence at a very early age, their probability of persevering in math increases. Yet, given the demographically diverse nature of the South King County community where we work, it would be impossible for Zeno to fully understand on our own the cultural nuances necessary for this material to help all families. For this reason, the focus of these seminars will be to empower those early learning professionals in our partner organization(s) who work directly with families in their community and understand how present the materials in a culturally effective way.
During our project development phase we will first pilot this material with providers, and will collect feedback to help us adjust our materials to be as universally appropriate as possible. Materials will be translated into 4 languages so the providers who are already familiar with our target families, can administer the material in a culturally appropriate way thus allowing the materials to be accessible to the diverse cultures we seek to reach.
MathWays for Early Learning's ultimate goal is to give children the opportunity to have future STEM success by giving families tools to support building foundational math concepts at home. If kids embrace math and build math confidence at a very early age, their probability of persevering in math increases. Yet, given the demographically diverse nature of the South King County community where we work, it would be impossible for Zeno to fully understand on our own the cultural nuances necessary for this material to help all families. For this reason, the focus of these seminars will be to empower those early learning professionals in our partner organization(s) who work directly with families in their community and understand how present the materials in a culturally effective way.
During our project development phase we will first pilot this material with providers, and will collect feedback to help us adjust our materials to be as universally appropriate as possible. Materials will be translated into 4 languages so the providers who are already familiar with our target families, can administer the material in a culturally appropriate way thus allowing the materials to be accessible to the diverse cultures we seek to reach.
5
Project Timeline Total Points
10
Zeno MathWays for Early Learning - Project Timeline
Develop low/no cost activities for appropriate for children ages 3-5 with assistance from Early Learning expert (Contractor)
(2) Sets of (10) activities that can be done in the home and easily taught to families
October 2014 – December 2014
Develop leave-behind calendar of activities
A leave –behind item which will include up to (30) math-focused activities that families can easy incorporate to their day
October 2014 – December 2014
Pilot MathWays for Early Learning content with (20) families so we may test and refine our materials as necessary.
(2) sets of fully tested content piloted by Zeno staff
December 2014 – February 2015
Renew STARS certification
Renewed STARS certification to provide STARS credits for seminar participants
October 2014 – December 2014
Identify and partner with early learning providers and community organizations who will learn and implement the Mathways Early Learning materials
A set of partners including those serving underserved communities who we will be trained to present the MathWays for Early Learning materials to their community of families.
October 2014 – February 2015
Develop MathWays for Early Learning Training Seminar curricula, assessment survey and demonstration materials with assistance from Assessment and Data expert (Contractor).
(2) fully scripted seminars, necessary supporting materials and assessment materials ready to pilot with A early learning providers
December 2014
– February 2015
Pilot MathWays for Early Learning Training Seminar within a focus group of early learning providers
Complete MathWays for Early Learning seminar training materials
Completed supplemental materials on how to use the calendar of activities
Surveys to administer to participants to report in on activities and results
February 2015
– April 2015
Implementation Activities
Anticipated Outcome
Start & End Dates
Facilitate (6) sets of MathWays for Early Learning Providers seminars in a (12) month period
Relationships with trained providers as partners in the continuous development of the program
Agreement to present the materials to the families in their communities
Agreement to administer data surveys so program can continue to improve
April 2015
– March 2016
SECTION VI: BUDGET AND ATTACHMENTS (7 TOTAL POINTS ) – SEE BUDGET ATTACHED
Application Question
Grantee Response
Pts. Possible
Pts. Awarded
Reviewer Notes
What is the total operating budget for your organization?
$927,727
1
For each key budget category, describe how you will use the funds requested to implement the project described.
The budget for MathWays for Early Learning will be $43,000, funded by an $8,000 investment by Zeno and $35,000 in support from Thrive by Five. Our total personnel cost for this project is $23,000, $15,000 of which is intended to be covered by this grant. We've included $84 in Travel to cover expenses of our staff traveling to seminar sites during the grant period. Our total Supplies Costs of $5,316 cover producing the key activities and leave-behinds necessary to make the seminars successful and free to attendees. Additionally, $11,000 will go towards Contracted Services with an Early Learning Specialist to consult on development of activities, an Assessment Consultant, and a Translation Consultant. Finally, this budget reflects indirect charges of 10% for a total of $3,500. Not included in this budget is the anticipated time of an additional Zeno Mathematician-in-Residence to assist with program production and delivery, estimated at 150 hours (.18 FTE x $44,000) for a total of an additional $8,000 in project cost that Zeno will cover outside of this line-item budget. To sustain this program after the grant term is finished, we will seek funding from other STEM and Early Learning focused funders, such as The Boeing Company.
6
Budget and Attachments Total Points
7
Note: Does the project budget seem reasonable for the scope of work proposed?
Zeno
MathWays for Early Learning
Line Item
Approved Budget
Comments/Justification
(List individual positions, types of expenses on lines below each line item)
Enter amounts in lines below Line Item heading. Formulas automatically total up and across in yellow field for each line item.
Section VII: Funding Priorities (Total Points 10) – Overall, how well does the proposal support the following four funding priority areas:
Funding Priority Area
Pts. Possible
Pts. Awarded
Reviewer Notes
Benefits to the Early Learning Field: Priority will be given to projects that demonstrate the capacity to inform the early learning field on how to increase STEM success for children, families, and communities.
2
Innovation Approach: Priority will be given to projects that develop innovative ways to solve an identified problem in the community or organization.
3
Use of Relevant Data to Identify Biggest Opportunity to Address STEM: Priority will be given to projects that utilize existing data from your organization and community to highlight STEM challenges. This might be anything from STEM Identity workforce program data to Washington Kindergarten Inventory of Developing Skills (WaKIDS).
2
Support of Underrepresented and Underserved Communities: Priority will be given to projects that identified and highlight how the organization will work with young children of the population who currently are underrepresented and underserved in the STEM workforce.
