Mini-Grant
Mini-Grant for Currently Practicing School Psychologists, Faculty, School Psychology Graduate Students, and Organizations.
I. Purpose of Mini-Grant Awards
The purpose of this mini-grant is to provide financial assistance to practicing school psychologists or faculty to effectively carry out the profession of school psychology, or to school psychology graduate students in order for them to further enhance their knowledge, skills, and/or awareness of topics pertinent to the practice of school psychology or organizations promoting best practices in school psychology.
Preference will be given to proposals that demonstrate an impact on the recipient's organization, program, and/or the field of school psychology (see rubric).
NOTE: Graduate students seeking funding to support research projects should not apply for this mini-grant; they are, instead, encouraged to apply for the Student Research Grant.
II. Eligibility
Members of ASPP who are currently practicing school psychologists, faculty, or school psychology graduate students in a NASP-approved school psychology graduate program in Pennsylvania are eligible to apply. For organizations (e.g., educational entities) that apply for these mini-grants, at least one employee must be an ASPP member.
Applicants who have previously received a Mini-Grant or Student Research Grant Award can only submit an application for activities that are different from the previously-funded activities. Additionally, applicants must have satisfactorily completed all requirements of the previously-awarded grant to be considered for new funding.
III. Expenses
Grant money may be used to enhance school psychology practice aligned with the NASP Practice Model for School Psychologists, including the following activities:
Workshops: Best practice trainings, parent trainings, speakers, etc.
Consultation: Indirect services to teachers, classrooms, schools, or organizations
Materials: Test kits, protocols, reinforcement supplies for students, etc.
Policy work: Attending legislative/policy workshops, etc.
Awareness of the profession: School Psychology Awareness Week activities, outreach to other relevant fields/audiences, etc.
Other: Justify how the use of the grant funds would allow you to carry out or enhance the role of school psychologists in Pennsylvania
IV. Size of Mini-Grant
ASPP will award a maximum of $5,000 annually for all mini-grants. Given there are two review periods (see Section VII below), the maximum amount that can be requested is $2,500 per application in a review cycle. The decision to award funds is at the discretion of the ASPP Research Committee and/or proposal review committee members. ASPP reserves the right to allocate a partial amount of the funds requested. If funds are spent in a manner other than what is outlined in the proposal, award recipients may be asked to reimburse ASPP or provide further justification of expenditures.
V. Application
Applications must include the following information:
- Contact information, including name, organizational affiliation, email address, physical address, and phone number
- Title or name of project
- Written confirmation of the applicant's ASPP membership (for individual applicants); organizational applicants should indicate the number of ASPP members within their organization.
- Written confirmation that the applicant practices or attends graduate school in Pennsylvania, noting whether the applicant is a student, faculty member, or practicing school psychologist (for individual applicants)
- Brief (500-1000 words maximum) summary of need for the mini-grant, including rationale for funds to meet one of the needs listed in Section III, alignment with the current NASP Practice Model, implications for the field of school psychology, and list of intended expenses (include itemized budget and total amount requested not to exceed $2,500). Please note that travel expenses should not exceed 50% of the proposed budget.
- Brief timeline for grant-funded activities, noting the anticipated dates that ASPP will receive confirmation that funding was spent and a summary of grant activities (see below).
VI. Evaluation Criteria
All applications for grant money will be evaluated by each member of the ASPP Review Committee, according to the Mini-Grant Evaluation Rubric. Please note that applications received after 11:59pm on the deadline (May 15th and December 15th) will not be considered.
VII. Submission Instructions and Notification of Mini-Grant
Requests for grant money are reviewed during two periods per year, with submission deadlines of May 15th and December 15th at 11:59pm. Applications can be submitted by clicking on the Submit an Application link on this webpage. Committee decisions will be communicated to the applicant within 4 weeks of the closing of the corresponding review period.
VIII. Follow-up
Within 30 days of spending the funds from this mini-grant, the recipient must submit a brief confirmation that funding was spent (i.e., receipts). Within 60 days of project completion, the recipient must submit a brief summary (500 words maximum) of how the funds were spent and the impact on the recipient's organization, program, and/or the field of school psychology. Please note that the recipient may be asked to submit a brief summary of their mini-grant project to be featured in the ASPP InSight publication.