Laura Bush Foundation

Grant Application Draft

Cynthia Johnson

The mission of the Laura Bush Foundation for Americas Libraries is to help school libraries (a)
encourage and foster a love of reading; (b) support student learning; and (c) make books and reading
materials available to students who otherwise would not have access to them.
YOUR SCHOOL IS ELIGIBLE TO APPLY IF IT MEETS THE FOLLOWING FIVE CRITERIA:
1. Your school has been in operation for a minimum of one year prior to your application so that you
are able to provide accurate information about the percentage of students in your school eligible for
the free or reduced lunch program (FRL).
2. Your school has a student body where 85% or more of your students qualify for free or reduced
lunches.
3. Your school has a school library that meets the following definition:
A library is a uniquely designated space in which books and other materials are systematically
classified and arranged by subject and type. They are stored in a place and manner that allows
access to all students and adults in the school.
Please note that the definition does not include classrooms or classroom sets of books, collections of
books stored in a room that are not organized and classified in a systematic way, or collections of
books on rolling carts of any description.
4. The day-to-day oversight and operation of your school library is carried out by a paid contracted
staff member who fits the following definition:The person is designated by the school administration
as responsible for the collection, care, and use of the materials housed in the dedicated space of the
library.
5. Your school has not previously received a grant from the Laura Bush Foundation for Americas
Libraries. Schools that have previously received a grant from the Laura Bush Foundation for Americas
Libraries are ineligible to apply.
PLEASE NOTE THAT YOUR APPLICATION WILL NOT BE READ IF IT IS INCOMPLETE. Every question
asked must be answered. Where the question appears inapplicable to your particular school, you must

write in zero, not available, not applicable, none, no or some other word that explains why
you are not answering a question.
All required fields are indicated.
Application submission:

Application submissions are due Monday, December 15, 2014 (8:00 p.m. Central Standard
Time).

Questions regarding the application must be submitted by Friday, November 21, 2014 (8:00
p.m. Central Standard Time).

Applications must be submitted via the online application form. Applications sent via fax, mail,
or e-mail cannot be accepted.

All application questions must be completed. Incomplete applications cannot be considered.

To access and successfully complete the application, please use one of the following web
browsers: Internet Explorer, Safari, or Google Chrome. To use the calculation feature for
several questions within the application, please enable JavaScript.

To submit the application, make sure to click the Submit the Proposal to LBF button. An email will be generated to your e-mail address confirming delivery once the application is
submitted.

We anticipate that recipients will be identified and awards will be made before the middle of
May, 2015.

We recommend that you save your content information into your own Microsoft Word file
before submission.

Important: Please read Frequently Asked Questions and the Grading Rubric sections on this
website before filling out the application.
The Laura Bush Foundation for Americas Libraries is a fund of the George W. Bush Foundation, a nonprofit 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization. For general questions regarding the Foundation or the
application, please contact us at laurabushfoundation@bushcenter.org.
We are interested in how you first became aware of the LBF grant program. Please select one of
the following.
A. Professional journal
B. LBF website
C. LBF brochure
C. Vendor/Commercial Publisher

D. At a conference or convention
E. Online discussion group
F. Building administrator
G. District administrator
Other
Other, please specify:

PART I: CONTACT INFORMATION

The first thing we need is to know how to contact you at your school. This allows us to get
in touch with you to confirm receipt of your proposal, to send an inquiry should there be a
question about your application, to pass along any important announcements, or to send
you additional information or material if the need should arise. Please provide the
following:
1. School name: *

Carver Elementary School

2. Name of the school district or governing organization: *

Jefferson County

3. Schools Federal Employer Tax Identification Number: *

(Tax ID is 9-digits numerical number only. The number can be obtained from the schools and/or districts Finance Office)

4. School's mailing address:

Line 1 *

104 Bedingfield Street

Line 2
City *
State *

Wadley

Georgia

Zip Code *

30477

5. School's telephone and fax numbers (please use 10 digits, no spaces or hyphens):

Phone: *

4782525267

Fax number

4782520577

6. School's email address. This will be used for notification if you are funded. Be sure to double-check
that it is correctly entered: *
7. Principal's name:
Last Name *

Pitts

First Name *

Tiffany

Email address *

pittst@jefferson.k12.ga.us

8. Name of the person filling out this application:

Last Name: *

Johnson

First Name: *

Cynthia

9. Title of person filling out this application: *

Media Specialist

10. Telephone number of the person filling out this application (please use 10 digits, no spaces or
hyphens): *

7067996031

11. Email address of the person filling out this application. We will send an email to this address to
confirm receipt of the application: * johnsonc@jefferson.k12.ga.us
12. Is the person filling out this application also the person responsible for the day-to-day on-site
library operation in the school? *
Yes
No
Please note: Preference will be given to applications that are prepared by the person in your school
specifically responsible for the library. We believe that the person on-site has the best understanding
of the library's status, needs, and potential.

PART II: SCHOOL AND LIBRARY STRUCTURE AND OPERATION

Here we are looking for information that will help put your proposal in context. The answers to these
questions provide a profile of your school and illustrate how and where your library fits into the larger
picture of your school and its student population.
13. Which of the following best describes the school? If "other", provide a short description (25 words
or less) *
Preschool and/or Kindergarten
Primary School
Primary/Elementary School
Elementary School
Middle School / Jr. High School
High School
Pre K or Kindergarten through Grade 8 School
Grades 7 through 12 School
Pre K or Kindergarten through Grade 12 School
Other (please specify)

14. Which of the following best describes the school? If "other", provide a short description (100
words or less) *
Public
Public alternative
Public charter
Private
Other (please specify)

15. What percentage of your student body is eligible for free and reduced lunch (FRL)?
Secondary schools may submit verifiable FRL data averaged from all feeder schools.
96-100%

16. Please provide NCES Information:

A. What is your school's NCES ID?
130306001263
Please see:http://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/ if you need to find it.

B. If this is a secondary school using data from feeder schools, list all schools that feed into your high
school, providing name and NCES IDs:

17. How many students are there in the school this year? *
247
Please use numbers only, no commas

18. How many books are in your school's library collection? *

6500
Please use numbers only, no commas

19. How many books per student does this provide? *

26
Please use numbers only, no commas

20. What is the distance to the nearest public library? Please choose one from the pull-down menu: *
less than 1 mile

21. Does your school have a certified school librarian on site who runs the library day-to-day? *
Yes

No
If your school does have a certified librarian on site, proceed to Question Number 22.
If your school does not have a certified librarian, please describe the person who currently
has day-to-day responsibility for the library and its operation.
(A) Position Description:
Certified teacher
Administrator
Certified specialist in some area other than library media
Aide or para-professional
(B) Is this person full-time or part-time in the library?
Full-time in the library
Part-time in the library
(C) What is this person's education and experience?
No degree
Bachelors degree
Masters degree or higher
(D) Library Media Training
Has no library media training
Has some library media training
Is a qualified library technician
Is currently in a library media certification program
Has temporary library media certification
Is taking on-line training
(E) Experience in the library job:
First year responsible for the library
1-3 years experience responsible for the library
4 or more years experience responsible for the library

22. Other Duties: Does the person primarily responsible for the library have a second
responsibility in the school (e.g., classroom teacher, counselor, administrator, secretary,
etc)?
Yes
No
If yes, describe that responsibility:
Classroom Reading Teacher

The answer is limited to 50 words.

23. Does the person responsible for the on site day-to-day operation of the library have support staff
such as aides, clerks, para-professionals, parent/community volunteers, or other help? *
Yes
No
If yes, please describe that help in 25 words or less:

24. Please provide the following information concerning the budget for library books for
this year. Use numbers; no commas. (Refer to the Frequently Asked Questions for items
that are considered part of the budget for library books).
(A) Total library book budget provided by the governing body for the 2014-2015 school year (this
would include any funds allocated directly from the district as well as funds allocated through the
principals budget for the building). *$

3300

In answering this question, please remember that a book is a print or Braille bound volume or an audio-book on an
audio-tape, CD-ROM, or other digital format. For this definition, books are part of either the reference section or the
circulating section of the schools central library collection.

(B) Total library magazine/serial budget provided by the governing body for the 2014-2015 school
year (this would include any funds allocated directly from the district as well as funds allocated

through the principals budget for the building).

3300

*$

(C) Total funds from other sources used for books or magazines, such as grants, book fairs, money
from parent organizations, other fund-raising activities, etc. *$

200

(D) Including all of the above allocations, how much is this per pupil for the school year? *$/pupil:
14

PART III: THE PROPOSAL

Please provide the most compelling explanation of your students needs and the clearest description of
your proposal that you can provide. Answer every part of every question. We cannot appropriately
evaluate incomplete applications.
Please also remember that funds are available only for library books and magazine/serial copies and
subscriptions. The Laura Bush Foundation is unable to honor requests for staffing, shelving, furniture,
equipment, e-readers, software, videos, classroom book sets or any kind of book guides, tests or
exams.
Important: Please read the Frequently Asked Questions and the Scoring Rubric sections before
answering the questions below.
25. Is the person filling out this application responsible for carrying out the activities described in this
grant proposal? *
Yes
No
If no, who will be responsible? Please list the name, title, and experience of each person who will have
responsibility for implementing the proposal:
Last name
First name
Title:
Experience

This answer is limited to 100 words.

26. Every school, school population and school library is unique. What distinguishes your
school, your school population and your library? Particularly address any condition in the
school, community or student population that demonstrates a unique and compelling need
for books. What role does your school library play in addressing your students needs?

This answer is limited to 500 words.

27. Give a broad overview of the strengths and weaknesses of your

library as well as a description of your library collection
improvement goals:

This answer is limited to 500 words.

28. How much money (up to $7,000) are you requesting from the Laura Bush Foundation to fund your
proposal? Please use whole numbers only; no commas, decimals, or fractions: *$

7000

29. What specific library need(s) are you addressing with this proposal? How will specific student
groups or school programs benefit from the Laura Bush Foundation grant? *

This answer is limited to 500 words.

30. Describe your proposed categories of materials and allocation of grant money to meet
the specific needs described above:

Note: (a) you may not request anything other than books or magazines, and (b) if your plan includes
purchasing eBooks or any other electronic materials, indicate in what ways and how easily your
students will be able to access them.

This answer is limited to 300 words.

31. How does your library collaborate with the school community to address student needs? How does
the school library program promote collaboration among members of the school's learning community?
*

This answer is limited to 250 words.

32. If you do receive a grant to implement your proposal, how will you measure and evaluate its
impact on the students, the library and the school? *

This answer is limited to 250 words.

33. If your school is selected as a recipient of a Laura Bush Foundation grant, do you agree
to participate in the Foundations evaluation program?
Yes
No
34. If your school is selected as a recipient of a Laura Bush Foundation grant, do you agree
that information from this application may be used for publicity to promote the goals of the
Laura Bush Foundation for Americas Libraries?
Yes
No

35. The principal bears ultimate responsibility for a given schools programs and
operations. The principal, by electronically inserting his or her name and the date approval
is granted below, approves the application and certifies the accuracy of the information
submitted.
I,

Principal's name

hereby certify the accuracy of the information provided in this application and fully support its
submission.
I support this application to the Laura Bush Foundation and the project described herein. Further, I
certify that funds granted by the Laura Bush Foundation will not be used to supplant money normally
budgeted for the library program. I understand that these funds are to be used for supplemental
funding only and may only be spent for books or magazines.
I also agree to have the information we have submitted be included as part of aggregated, anonymous
data used for research purposes.
If our school is funded, I agree to participate in publicity to promote the goals of the Foundation and
to submit an evaluation of the use of the funds a year after funds are received.
Date:
Month

Day

Year

PART IV: ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Please remember that only this on-line application is official. We cannot accept any faxed, e-mailed, or
printed applications. Once you submit this application, it cannot be changed or retrieved. If multiple
applications are received from your school, only the first submission will be considered.

Please review your application before submitting. Check that all questions are answered and that you
are not requesting funds for anything except books (hardbound print or Braille volumes, audio-books
on audio-tape or CD-ROM, e-books to be added to either the circulating or reference section of the
school's central library collection, or magazine/serial copies or subscriptions).
Thank you for your interest in the Laura Bush Foundation. Best wishes for continued success in the
important work you do.
Note: You must click "Submit the Proposal to LBF" button below to complete this
submission process. Saved draft will not be considered.
Required fields.

Laura Bush Foundation

Grant Application

History of School
George Washington Carver Elementary School is a public school located at 104 Bedingfield
Street, Wadley, Georgia. Carver Elementary was originally called the Wadley Colored High
School. The name was changed in 1945 when the principal, Mr. Robert Jordan, suggested the
change. The school then housed grades 1-11. In 1951, a year of transition, the state
department added the 12th grade and Mr. Q. E. Parker became principal where he remained
until 1970. In 1958, the black high schools consolidated forming the Jefferson County High
School, moving grades 9-12 to Louisville. The present building was erected in 1958. The
Jefferson County School System desegregated in 1970, moving grades 6-8 to Wadley High School.
The students from the south end of Bartow, Georgia who attended Booker T. Washington
Elementary and grades 1-5 of Carver Elementary combined to form the present day school. The
Kindergarten program was added in 1975 and Georgias Pre-Kindergarten program was
instituted in 1993. Additionally, Head Start students have been housed at Carver Elementary
since the spring of 2000. Finally, in the fall of 2000, Carver began the process of becoming a
magnet/theme school with an emphasis on performing arts and technology.
Carver Elementary School is the smallest school in the system with a total of 247 students,
which is a decline from 299 in 2006, and 100% of the students are free and reduced lunch
eligible. Carver Elementary School is also a Title I Distinguished School and has a school-wide
Title I program.

Based on analysis of CRCT, writing assessment, Scholastic Reading Inventory,

Classworks universal screener and ITBS data, Carver Elementary school has an
unquestionable need to improve student learning and achievement at all grade levels.
Jefferson County School system has recently developed a Comprehensive Literacy plan,
using the states plan as a guide International Reading Award will provide source of
funding books, and magazines for our library to assist the school in improving our
literacy plan while enhancing the systems plan.

Research is very clear that American

education is in crisis. Many public school students, kindergarten through 12 th grade, are
struggling; minority children and low socio-economic children struggle the most. Often
these children fall behind in school, which leads to an increase in the dropout rate.
Continuing in school and receiving a quality education, will most surely lead these
children on a route towards responsible, productive citizenship (Bamburg, 1994). Based
on the new Lexile requirements for the Common Core, data indicates that in upper grades
approximately 60% of students are not ready for grade level instruction. Our objective is
that every student will read at a lexile of 850 or higher when leaving elementary school.
Our library is in need of improvement to coincide with todays technology and learning.
Several of our books are torn, damaged and outdated. It is hard to weed in fear of
removing so many books that are needed. A vast majority of our students are reading
below grade level. Carver is committed to making sure students learn to read on grade
level.
Due to budget cuts there are no e-books and magazines in the media center. Fiction books
and books that are relevant to the 21st century and magazines are needed to expose
students to other media literacy. A strength of our school is that our literacy block is two
and a half hour long. Students need to have access to a variety of books to check out
visiting the library. Students are fascinated when they see new books and titles. Since
leaving Accelerated Reader program and using lexiles, students are required to check out
books on their lexile. Student will visit the library more if there are more books on the
shelves. Also the librarian and teacher will be able to collaborate and plan units per grade
if there are enough books. The librarian also would be able to start a book club for more
than one grade. Research has shown that the more a child reads the better he or she
becomes.

CES Remarkable Reads will be implemented to inspire students in grades PK-5 to read
more. We are competing with the digital age and students love for reading no longer
picking up a book to read as they are video games. With the new books students will
choose a book they are interested in and read it. After reading the book they will sign up
with the media specialist to create a book talk and the media specialist will video their
book talk to create book trailers and place on the schools website for teachers to share
with classes, parents and discuss. The use of technology will entice students to read their
book so they can the media specialist can video them. Out of 247 students enrolled at our
school, according to Scholastic Reading Inventory only 20% are actually reading on
grade level.

We will evaluate this program at the end of the year by increasing the number of students
reading on grade level by thirty percent. Students will take the Scholastic Reading
Inventory at the end of the year and data will be collected to monitor progress. The
library check out data will increase as students become interested in various books. The
media automated system will collect data to evaluate the checkout for the year to evaluate
the program. Students taking the Georgia Milestone will increase their lexile scores by
thirty percent.

Budget:

Title

Price

Quantity

Total

Secret of the Old

12.99

10

129.90

12.99

10

129.90

12.99

10

129.90

Clock
Quest of the Missing
Map
Clue of the Black

Keys
Secret of Mirror Bay

12.99

10

129.90

Rechenkas Eggs

12.99

103.92

Thunder Cake

12.99

103.92

Diary of a Wimpy

17.17

10

171.70

17.17

10

171.70

17.17

10

171.70

17.17

10

171.70

17.17

10

171.70

17.17

10

171.70

17.17

10

171.70

57.87

462.96

Cruisers: Checkmate

19.29

154.32

Cruisers: A Star is

19.29

154.32

Cruisers: Oh, Snap

19.99

159.92

Communication

15.07

75.35

15.07

75.35

Kid: The Long

Overhaul
Diary of a Wimpy
Kid: Cabin Fever
Diary of a Wimpy
Kid: Dog Days
Diary of a Wimpy
Kid: The Last Straw

Diary of a Wimpy
Kid: Roderick Rules
Diary of a Wimpy
Kid: The Ugly Truth
Diary of a Wimpy
Kid: The Third
Wheel
Dork Diaries Series
of 8 books

Born

Inventions
Medical Inventions

Transportation

15.07

75.35

19.97

99.85

Graphs with Giraffes

13.68

68.40

Patterns with Pandas

13.68

68.40

Cheers for a Dozen

19.29

96.45

Total

$3283.21

Inventions
Archaeologists
Tools

Ears