SEL in Action Awards

Overview

<p><strong>What is New in 2021</strong></p> <p>Key changes to the SEL in Action Awards program from previous rounds of the grant program are summarized below:</p> <ul> <li><span>All Grantees Receive Ongoing Educator Supports for the Duration of their Grant</span><span>: </span><span>In addition to funding, the grantee cohort will receive opportunities to learn, share their work and connect with a group of national SEL practitioners, experts and advocates at a convening and ongoing supports during the 2021–22 school year.</span></li> <li><span>Educator-led Award Maximum Grant: </span>Educator-led awards formerly had a maximum award of $7,000. The new educator-led awards have a maximum award of $7,500.</li> </ul> <p>NoVo Foundation is committed to supporting the spread of social and emotional learning (SEL) practices in schools and districts nationwide. We know practitioners have some of the most inspiring, effective and innovative ideas in the field. NoVo Foundation, in partnership with Education First and Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, aims to seed projects that foster social and emotional competencies in students in grades PK-12. Whether you have an idea for a new initiative or want to expand or continue an existing project, we want to hear from you.</p> <p>For the 2020-21 school year, we are inviting applications for the SEL in Action Awards from two applicant pools:</p> <ol> <li>School-based educators (including teachers, counselors, administrators and other school staff) seeking to implement SEL initiatives in classrooms or schools in the 2020-2021 school year, and</li> <li>District-level applicants seeking to implement SEL initiatives district-wide and/or across multiple schools within one district (including a charter network).</li> </ol> <p>We seek applications that will create places, environments and practices that value belonging, well-being, tolerance, compassion, listening, non-violence, inclusiveness, working productively together, and restoring relationships and repairing harm. NoVo seeks a change from a world based on domination towards collaboration and partnership, and understands that this has to be valued, taught and modeled to and with children in order to make this shift a possibility.</p> <p>In addition to funding, the grantee cohort will receive opportunities to learn, share their work and connect with a group of national SEL practitioners, experts and advocates at a convening and ongoing supports during the 2021–22 school year.</p> <p>Though all proposals are welcome, we are also seeking proposals that specifically support one or more of the following student populations:</p> <ul> <li>Students from Indigenous communities</li> <li>New arrivals (such as refugees) or immigrants</li> <li>English learners</li> <li>LGBTQIA+ students</li> <li>Girls and young women of color</li> <li>Students disproportionately affected by suspensions or the juvenile justice system</li> <li>Students with learning disabilities</li> <li>Students impacted by housing inequities or homelessness</li> </ul> <p>We will give priority to projects that:</p> <ul> <li>Are focused primarily on student outcomes (as opposed to only adult outcomes)</li> <li>Are original and innovative, and build off of existing evidence-based practices or the science of learning</li> <li>Bring an orientation and analysis of racial and/or social justice</li> <li>Serve students within a high-needs school</li> <li>Are able to be implemented during the 2020-21 school year</li> <li>Have the potential to carry on beyond the grant period</li> <li>Demonstrate principal, school/district leader and peer educator support</li> <li>Consider trauma-informed practices, implicit bias and culturally responsive approaches to teaching</li> <li>Are creating alternative and restorative practices of accountability</li> <li>Foster a deeper connection to nature</li> </ul>