ANDERSON CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION

GRANT APPLICATION
2007-08
APPLICANT:

Cahuilla Elementary School

CONTACT PERSON:

Brette MacLean

Address:

833 East Mesquite

Palm Springs, CA 92264

Phone:
Fax:
Email:

760-416-8161
760-416-8164
bmaclean@psusd.us

AMOUNT REQUESTED:

$50,000

APPROXIMATE # SERVED OR EFFECTED:

570 Elementary school students

UNMET NEED BEING ADDRESSED:

Student access to computers and

presentation software

PAST RECIPIENT:

Yes

PROJECT OVERVIEW: (Describe the project in general: who it serves, where, when, how
etc.)
Cahuilla Elementary School is requesting funding for laptop computers, software and
professional staff development. Our ultimate goal is to prepare our children to be contributing
members of an ever-changing work force, one in which understanding the basic uses of
computers is in high demand. Many of our students do not have access to computers and
technology and deserve the opportunity to compete against others who have technology available
to them on a daily basis. The use of technology in the curriculum will lead to student mastery of
academic standards and technical skills. In addition it will help our students develop digital age
literacy, inventive thinking, effective communication, and high-productivity.
During the 2007-08 school year, a Professional Learning Community of teachers will act as a
pilot committee for technology in the form of a vertical team to reach students in all grade levels.
As teachers, we cannot effectively teach technology skills unless we have been properly trained.
The professional development piece of the grant will provide targeted training on the use of the
laptops, its software, and its integration into the curriculum.

Page 2 (Grant Application)

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES:
Use the following format:
Goal Statement: (A broad statement of intent. Ex. "To improve health care deliver to children")
Objective: (What are you trying to achieve? Ex. "Increase the number of children who are
immunized in time to start school.")
Activities: (How are you going to do this? Ex. "Implement five more public health clinics in
___area.")
Goal
Increase student knowledge and skills in the use of computer technology in order to enable them
to be successful throughout their education and to provide them a foundation for future
workforce success.
Objective
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

Purchase one rolling cart of Apple laptops and software

Secure computers and upload software onto laptops
Train staff participating in pilot program
Train parents in fair use policy and district internet protocol.
Train students in fair use policy and district internet protocol and software.
Develop maintenance schedule for laptops and software applications
Monitor and evaluate success of program

Activities1. Fill out district purchase order requisitions

2. ID laptops and create a check out protocol procedure, find a secure place to store them,
and upload software.
3. Develop professional development plan through CTAP, Apple, EdTech and district and
instructional tech team
Increase teacher knowledge of computer use and application in the classroom.
Develop classroom lesson plans to use in the teaching of our students
4. Parents sign Internet Use Policy and ensure enrollment changes are reflected. Technology
team will hold parent meetings to discuss liability and teach basic computer skills.
5. Implementation of designed lesson plans which include basic computer operations, file
management, use of purchased software and fair use policy and district internet protocol
6. Schedule district personnel to check condition of laptops and upgrade any software
issues.
7. Creation of teacher developed student rubrics for technology created projects and group
share of projects among students.

Page 3 (Grant Application)

Background information: (Describe why you believe the project is necessary and whether it
has been effective previously or is a new strategy.)
Demographics speak to the need of technology training in all grades. As one of fifteen
elementary schools in our Palm Springs Unified School District, Cahuilla serves approximately
570 students in grades kindergarten through fifth. At Cahuilla 60.8% of the students are
Hispanic, 20.7% are White, 14.1% are African American, and 4.4% represent other ethnic
backgrounds. 71% of these students are a part of the free or reduced lunch program. 41% of
Cahuilla student population is English language learners. Without support in school, these
students may never be exposed to technology and may be far behind their peers in a future
competitive job market. The addition of laptops to Cahuilla will allow students to be exposed and
engaged in learning technology skills. In a time where educators are pressured to raise test
scores, many areas of study that are ignored. Our ultimate goal as educators is to prepare our
children to be contributing members of an ever-changing work force. Technology is vital in our
society. Our students deserve the opportunity to compete with others who have technology more
available to them on a daily basis.
Our goal is to have students in grades K-5 working on the same standards based technology
projects such as podcasting, developing web-based research skills, and multimedia presentations.
By teachers working as a team throughout the grade levels, the children will be exposed to and
will gain proficiency in the available software. We have formed a team of enthusiastic teachers
that have a passion for implementing technology. We will train together on purchased software
and its integration into Californias curriculum. As a team we will develop projects through
lesson plans that emphasize technology.
Our motivation as a team was influenced by our visit to Fisler Elementary School in Fullerton,
California. Fisler is the national model for student laptop programs. All students in grades 1
through 8 have laptops 24/7. All lessons and curriculum are designed around the use of
technology and the presentation of student material. This program was designed with business
partners who expressed their expectations for students to be equipped with the necessary
computer skills to be a contributing member of society and our work force at large. The level of
student motivation and engagement excited us. We would love to replicate this program at our
school. Funding for this laptop program would provide the foundation for a future 24/7 laptop
program envisioned by the new Superintendent of Palm Springs Unified School District.

Page 4 (Grant Application)

Evaluation Plan: (Describe how you will measure your success and how you will be able to
show that you are in compliance with the project goals and objectives.)
This proposal requires a "process" evaluation model. To that end we will document the
following:
1. Document purchase order invoices.
2. Maintain records of the computers barcodes. Each laptop will be fully loaded with
purchased software. The cart of laptops is stored each night in secured locked room and is
available for checkout starting at 7:30 and checked in by 3:30 pm.
3. Document receipts and participation documentation from conferences and trainings.
4. Document parent signatures on districts internet use policy, document parent sign in
sheet from parent trainings.
5. Document student signatures on districts internet use policy.
6. Document Palm Springs Unified School District and Apple technicians report of
upgrades and maintenance of laptops.
7. We will measure our success through presentation and evaluation of student projects used
with the software this grant will purchase. Display student projects with rubric to show
student learning in the use of laptops

Continuing the project: (Describe how the project will be sustained when Anderson funding
ceases.)

Our current Superintendent is moving toward a district wide laptop program. In the
future, Cahuilla will be participating in that program. Funding from the Anderson Grant
will allow our students a head start in the process of learning advanced technology.
Palm Springs technology plan will supplement this use of technology in the future
through continued staff development from the Instructional Technology Department.
Other funding sources will be procured in order to ensure the successful implantation of
technology and the continuance of the plan.
o District General Funds
o Indian Wells Grant
o K12 Voucher Program
o Parent Teacher Organization
o School Library Improvement Block Grant
o Title I Fund
o Community Donations

Page 5 (Grant Application)

Budget: Budget plan should include:
Salaries: (Attach a brief job description for each position)
Capital Outlay Expenses: (Equipment)
Operating expenses: (Materials, supplies, etc.)
Travel: (If applicable)
This is a very important part of the grant and scrutiny of the budget will occur during its
review so be a detailed and accurate as possible.
Committee Chair Stipend
Ensure implementation of Anderson Grant
o Maintain all documents
o Schedule staff development
o Communication chair within team
o Evaluate necessary computer maintenance needs
o Maintain security of computers

$ 1,200.00

Capital Outlay and Operating Expenses - $35,505.00

20 MacBook 1GB laptop computers to include software and maintenance by Apple for $1583
per computer.
Included software:
Kidspiration 2.1
iWorks which includes Pages 2, Keynote 3
iLife which includes iPhoto, iMovie, iDVD, iWeb
$
31,656.00
4 digital cameras and 4 miniDV camcorders
3 Epson Multimedia Projectors with VGA adapters

$ 1,998.00
$ 1,851.00

Professional Development - $13,760.00

Apple Professional Development Institute- 4 day training for 16 teachers for the purpose of
learning how to utilize the new laptops and software.
$8000.00
Substitute teachers for teachers going to 4 day training
$4560.00
CUE conference registration fee
$ 735.00
Please Note:
Expenses may be incurred for the following items so please be sure to include them in the project
budget if applicable.

Mailings
Consent forms, liability releases, medical history forms, etc.
Liability insurance

Page 6 (Grant Application)

AGREEMENT
This agency/organization certifies that all information and data in this application is correct.
Further, we certify that we intend to implement the plan outlined in this application upon
approval by the Anderson Children's Foundation and will keep records/documentation for the
purposes of fiscal and program audits.
I, the official named below, am authorized to sign this grant award agreement and am legally
authorized to enter into this agreement with the Anderson Children's Foundation.
Official's signature

_______________________________

Official's typed name

Dr. Lorraine Becker

Official's title

Asst. Superintendent; Innovation, Resource

and Educational Program Development

Date signed

________________________________