Scholarships & Grants
Specific scholarship and grant programs will be developed to address the most pressing needs and opportunities facing disadvantaged students and to encourage and reward students who are showing extraordinary effort and achievement. Those may include the following:
- scholarships to cover all or part of fees for special activities such as sports, arts, music, field trips, etc.
- grants to pay for costs of clothing and equipment such as school uniforms, athletic uniforms or equipment, purchase or rental of musical instruments, calculators, personal computers and other equipment.
- grants for costs of special individualized assessments, tutoring, counseling or treatments;
- where basic tuition is not covered by public funding, scholarships may be awarded to pay all or part of selected students’ tuition.
The amount of the scholarships will be sufficient to cover all or part of the actual cost of the academic program. Grants for most enrichment programs and extracurricular activities will likely range from $50 to $300 dollars.
None of the schools in the American Preparatory family currently offer private education (they are public charter schools), but when such private schools become available, tuition costs (and the scholarships to cover them) will likely be in the range of $6,000 to $12,000 per student per year, depending on the age of the student and the location of the school. Scholarships would be awarded for part or all of those costs, depending on the funds available, the needs of the student, and the type of scholarship awarded.
Grants for professional continuing education and certificate programs for professional educators will likewise vary, depending on the course of study, ranging from a few hundred dollars for a multi-day course on American Preparatory teaching methodologies to tuition assistance with graduate studies in education at an accredited university.
The Process
Eligibility
Awards will be available to individuals who have a nexus with the American Preparatory education system, including:
- Students of schools being operated with the American Preparatory education system (“regular enrollment students”) (for example, scholarships and grants to help economically disadvantaged or high-achieving students pay for all or part of the costs of tuition, fees, books, supplies and extra-curricular educational activities related to their education at American Preparatory schools, where those costs are not covered by public funding).
- Students who are not regular enrollment students but who are enrolled in other programs offered by American Preparatory schools or in connection with them (“special enrollment students”) (for example, students involved in the after-school American Prep Reading School, summer school sessions, music programs, etc.)
- Parents or caregivers of students (for example, fee waivers for parents to attend English language courses or workshops to help them become more active, positive participants in their children’s education).
- Professional educators who are receiving education and training regarding American Preparatory teaching methodologies (for example, tuition for continuing professional education courses in enhanced teaching methods, curriculum familiarization or student engagement techniques).
Selection
Consideration will be given to factors including the following, with relative weighting depending on the particular purposes of the grant:
- Financial hardship or need of the recipient and family
- Academic performance
- Character & leadership potential
- Extra-curricular accomplishments (art, music, sport, etc.)
- Special circumstances (disability, English language learner, former refugee status, etc.)
Awarding
The Foundation’s board of directors will award grants for projects and programs. The Foundation’s Directors and staff will coordinate with directors and board members of schools in the system and with American Preparatory Schools management to choose those who are the best qualified or in the most need. The requesting recipient’s record of performance with previous grants (if any) will be taken into account in the selection process.
The Foundation will require periodic (usually monthly) written reports from recipients on the progress of the program or project and uses of grant funds. Results will be measured and tracked according to the standards agreed in the grant proposal. The Foundation’s directors will periodically request an invitation to attend meetings of the board of recipient entities to review progress and discuss concerns. The Foundation will engage in frequent communication and collaborative effort with recipient entities to catch problems early and allow for adjustments to ensure that grants are optimally deployed to best achieve the exempt purposes of the Foundation.
2022-2023 Scholarships
