TPS Regional Grant Program
Overview
The TPS Regional program promotes the widespread, sustained and effective use of primary sources from the Library of Congress in K-12 classrooms by increasing access to the TPS program. Through this effort, hundreds of organizations from all 50 states, and the District of Columbia have enhanced their programming for educators.
School districts, universities, cultural institutions, library systems and other educational organizations may apply for grants of up to $25,000 to incorporate TPS materials and methods into their existing education and professional development programs for pre and in-service teachers, librarians, and other K-12 educators.
Grant recipients may use TPS funding to meet a variety of programmatic needs, including:
- Delivering online or face-to-face TPS workshops
- Embedding TPS materials and content into broader professional development programs
- Revising undergraduate or graduate course syllabi or curricula to include a TPS focus
A 2017 evaluation of the TPS Regional program, conducted by Gallup, found that 83 percent of teachers who participated in professional development or academic courses funded through this program increased use of primary sources in their classrooms. Eighty-seven percent of respondents told colleagues about the primary sources and materials available on the Library of Congress Teachers Page.
Waynesburg University, Illinois State University and Metropolitan State University of Denver, administer grants on behalf of the Library of Congress in the East, Midwest and West. They accept proposals on a rolling basis throughout the year.
Examples of how awardees have used their TPS regional grants, include a Midwestern university that answered teachers’ calls for professional development focused on primary sources; a Massachusetts non-profit that used primary sources from the Library to support its mission to teach LGBTQ history; and a small national museum, in Montana, that directed teachers to a wealth of primary sources by combining its collections with the Library’s.
Read more:
History UnErased
Workshop participant examines a
primary source in a LGBTQ
history workshop funded by
a grant from the Eastern Region
Bowling Green State
University
Teachers attend one of
four workshops sponsored
by a Midwest Regional grant
Forest Service History Museum
Western Region facilitators
lead a workshop session
for teachers from seven states
Requesting a Grant
- The TPS Regional program accepts proposals for projects lasting up to 18 months, on a rolling basis. Before applying for a grant, please review the website for your region and submit a Notice of Intent. Regional staff will help you determine if your grant idea falls within the funding guidelines of the program.
- The TPS Regional program can offer advice and assistance to organizations who would like to incorporate TPS methods and materials into their programs, but do not need or receive funding.
Evaluating Grant Applications
- A successful grant application will include a thorough description of the intended project, its audience and content, a timeline of activities and a budget and narrative. Evaluators also look for a supporting management structure and a plan for sustained delivery of TPS content.
- Applicants learn of granting decisions within six weeks of submitting proposals.
Granting Criteria
When making granting decisions, regional staff consider whether the proposed project:
- Provides access to geographic areas and populations not currently served by TPS Consortium members;
- Includes professional development activities and partnerships that increase the likelihood of the project helping teachers achieve TPS goals;
- Describes the grantee organization’s sustained use of TPS content within its professional development programs for teachers;
- Exhibits sound planning, recruitment, implementation, and resource allocation.
Award Requirements
Grantees must submit brief financial and program reports. Grant funds will be disbursed upon submission of appropriate documentation of expenditures.