REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

$5,000 professional development grants for Texas and Louisiana school administrators and future administrators.

Deadline: May 15

HOUSTON - March 1, 2007 - Knowledge Arts Foundation (KAF) announced today that $5,000 grants in professional development services are available for Texas and Louisiana school principals and potential principals interested in enhancing their ability to lead schools with high numbers of at-risk students.

To be considered, schools must contact KAF in writing by 6 p.m. May 15, 2007.

This is the inaugural year of the Knowledge Arts Competitive Grant for New Principals and Potential Principals of schools with at least 50% of their student body eligible for free lunch. Grants will be awarded up to 25 applicants. Under this program, a school may apply for more than one grant.

The Principals Leadership Academy will begin with a Friday evening and all day Saturday session on June 15-16, 2007, followed by three additional day-long classes during the 2007-2008 school year. Additionally, the grant provides for three telephone coaching sessions per month for eight months from independent coaches, plus the availability of additional technical assistance as needed for one to two years. All classes will be held in Houston.

To be considered for a grant, an applicant must:

• Be a current or future administrator of a school in Texas or Louisiana
• Be serving a school with "educational need," defined as a school with 50% or higher free lunch population.
• Submit a letter of inquiry by 6 p.m. May 15, 2007.

Once letters are received, KAF das the administrator of these grants, will:

• Ask 25 finalists, who will be notified by May 19, 2007, to submit further information on the questionnaire provided by KAF
• Schedule telephone or personal interviews with finalists to clarify finalists objectives and answer questions
• Announce grant recipients by May 26, 2007
• Host recipients at an awards presentation dinner in Houston during the Spring of 2008

The letter of inquiry should include:

School name, applicant role or future role, brief information on school challenges and applicant`s professional goals. The letter should be no longer than one page.

For more information on the content and format of the Principals Leadership Academy please contact Dr. William A. Sommers at wsommers@austin.rr.com or call the KAF office at 713-781-2200.

Knowledge Arts launched in Houston in May 2005, and is committed to adding resources to educational systems that serve the at-risk student.