CPSF awarded the following educational grants for the 2006-2007 school year.

Critter Program ($15,000)

The Critter Program, officially called the Animal Excursion Program, brings animals into all CPS classrooms.

Classroom Performance System ($10,264)

Request submitted by:
Gentry Middle School Math Teachers

The grant will fund the purchase of additional response pads, receivers, software and chalkboard for existing SMARTBoards and fund the purchase of two SMARTBoards. The SMARTBoard system allows the classroom teacher to know immediately if a student understands a math problem.

The Geography Gap ($9,964)

The goal of this grant is to provide geographic materials to secondary (grades 6-12) CPS students to support and improve geography education. This includes pull-down maps, stands, globes, atlases and traveling map transparency sets.

Dynamic Immersion of English Language Learners (ELL) ($7,442)

Request submitted by:
CPS ELL Teachers

This will introduce interactive technology (Rosetta Stone) into the CPS ELL classrooms. The software helps students learn English in an environment that combines technology with native English speakers and a rich visual environment to build English language proficiency. The software is interfaced with a Student Management System to track student progress. At any time, 51 students can access this software anywhere in the district, providing access in computer labs and individual classrooms.

CASA Video Messenger ($920)

Request submitted by:
CASA Program Director

The Video Messenger character generator will allow CASA team members to generate text messaged at the bottom of the broadcast screen, similar to the crawling text messages seen on broadcast and cable television. The text messaging helps keep all CASA team members informed during missions regarding medical or other emergencies.