A research report from The Center for Digital Education, Funding and Professional Development, lists five grant opportunities for developing personalized learning programs. Some grants have rolling funding dates, others don’t close until November 2016 and December 2016 which would give you plenty of time to plan and create co-writing teams of key staff members. Specific grant information and guidelines can be found on pages 2-3 of the report.
While the grants don’t appear to focus solely on personalized learning plans for ELLs, the advent of ESSA with its shift of ELL funding from Title III to Title I increases the urgency for ELL Coordinators and Directors to work more closely with their district’s Federal Program Directors to advocate for tools that impact the education of all students.
Personalized learning can’t be found in a single program or initiative — it requires a complete shift in the way education is structured from kindergarten to college. (p 2, Funding and Professional Development)
The report was produced by the Center for Digital Education (CDE) which also maintains a blog, and other news and event feeds focusing on what’s happening in education today for both K-12 and Higher Ed. On the CDE site you can also find contests and awards for district and classroom level content and curriculum initiatives. If you’re looking for ways to showcase the great things folks in your district are doing, some of these opportunities might fit the bill. Let’s put more Missouri educators and districts on the map!
What steps has your district taken toward developing or implementing personalized learning plans for students? How do you see personalized learning plans impacting teacher’s abilities to serve ELLs? What PD do you foresee teachers needing in order to effectively use personal learning systems?