State archives seeks applicants for educational grants

The New York State Archives is seeking applicants for grants that fund projects using local government records in the classroom. The funding is available to any New York State local government including public schools, teacher centers, BOCES, towns, villages, cities, counties, cooperative extensions and others.

In order to be considered for funding, applicants must demonstrate how the proposed project is related to the various strategies outlined in the State Education Department's learning standards. Grants in previous years have funded:

• Projects combining multimedia technology with local government records that allow educators, students, and others to actively participate in the learning process.
• Teacher training programs that demonstrate how to use local government records as teaching tools in the classroom.
• Document teaching packets and the accompanying teachers' guide.
• School and local history projects and publications.
• Projects that address the environment or attempt to find solutions to current or long-standing community issues.

During the 2003-2004 grant cycle, the average award for educational projects using local government records was $12,462. The maximum that can be awarded to an individual project involving one local government is $75,000. Cooperative projects involving two or more local governments can apply for up to $125,000.

Grant guidelines and application forms are available at: www.archives.nysed.gov/a/grantsawards

Grant applications must be postmarked by February 2, 2004 in order to be eligible for the grant period beginning July 1, 2004 and ending June 30, 2005.

Additional information about these education grants can be obtained by contacting the State Archives at 518-474-6926; e-mail at archgrants@mail.nysed.gov; or by writing to the Grants Administration and Program Support Unit, NYS Archives, 9A81 Cultural Education Center, Albany, NY 12230.