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Virtual Field Trip (VFT) Mini-grant Program

A Partnership Between:

IMPORTANT- NETA will need to regretfully suspend any future virtual field trip grant opportunity until further notice due to the COVID-19 outbreak and the loss of revenue from not holding the 2020 NETA spring conference. 

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BACKGROUND: In February 2017, the NETA Board of Directors approved a new mini-grant program to enable Nebraska K-12 teachers to apply for funding to bring more virtual field trip program experiences to their students.

Partnering with the Nebraska Distance Learning Association (NDLA) and the ESU Coordinating Council (ESUCC), mini-grant applications will be reviewed quickly, and funding decisions will be communicated directly back to the teacher applicants.

Funding will be provided on a reimbursed basis once the program has been delivered and proof of payment is submitted. APPLICATIONS FOR FUNDING MUST BE SUBMITTED IN ADVANCE OF THE ACTUAL PROGRAM DATE.

ELIGIBILITY AND RESTRICTIONS:

  1. The applicant must be a NETA Member to receive this mini-grant (become a NETA Member here). By applying for the mini-grant the applicant also registers for a FREE NETA membership.
  2. The applicant must be a K-12 teacher from a Nebraska private or public school
  3. The maximum yearly limit on mini-grant requests is five (5) VFT programs or $500, whichever comes first
  4. The Virtual Field Trip programs must originate either from a Nebraska non-profit content provider, or be listed on the Nebraska Virtual Instruction Source (NVIS) Clearinghouse, or in the Center for Interactive Learning and Collaboration (CILC) Clearinghouse.
  5. The VFT mini-grant application MUST be submitted in advance of the desired program date, allowing at least one week for review and approval

APPLICATION PROCESS:

  1. Research appropriate virtual field trip programs by visiting:
    1. Nebraska Virtual Instruction Source (NVIS) Clearinghouse https://nvis.esucc.org/VFTList.aspx
    2. Center for Interactive Learning and Collaboration (CILC) Clearinghouse https://www.cilc.org/Interactive-Content/Search-Content-Provider-Programs.aspx
  2. Once the VFT program, scheduled date, and presentation information is known, click HERE to submit the mini-grant application.

REIMBURSEMENT PROCESS:

  1. Pay for the Virtual Field Trip and conduct the Virtual Field Trip with students.
  2. Submit a Virtual Field Trip Mini-grant Reimbursement form. Click here for the form. Please make sure to have proof-of-payment (e.g. receipt or paid invoice) ready before you submit the form. The form will ask you to upload proof-of-payment. A check will then be sent to the payer and address indicated on the form.
    *All reimbursement requests MUST be made within 90 days of program completion in order to receive any funds.

INFORMATION GATHERED ON THE MINI-GRANT APPLICATION:

  • Email Address
  • Teacher Name
  • Teacher Phone Number
  • School District Name
  • School Name
  • School Address (Street, City, State, Zip)
  • Grade Level(s)
  • Number of Students Affected
  • Program Provider
  • Name of Program
  • Cost of Program
  • Date(s) of Program (please include year)
  • State Standard(s) or Topics Addressed
  • Previous IVC (Interactive Video Conferencing) experience
  • Matching Funds, if any

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

Q: Is a home school teacher eligible?
A: Only Nebraska private and public K-12 teachers are eligible at this time.

Q: I teach in Iowa. Am I eligible to apply?
A: Only Nebraska private school and public school K-12 teachers are eligible at this time.

Q: I don’t have any matching funds. Will I be denied?
A: Matching funds are not a requirement for a grant request and do not receive preferential consideration.

Q: Where do I find the Nebraska state academic standards?
A: Visit https://education.ne.gov/AcademicStandards/index.html

Q: Are certain content areas or grade levels favored for grant funding?
A: All grade levels and content areas will be considered equally for funding.

Q: I am a middle school teacher and I teach three sections of the same course. If I want all three sections of students to see the VFT, is that one application or three?
A: We would prefer that this mini-grant be submitted as three separate VFT applications if there is a separate cost for each presentation.

Q: The NVIS content provider I am working with will permit us multiple dates of VFT presentations with one class for one fee, but it is over $500. Can this be grant request be submitted?
A: Yes, but the limit on funding from NETA would be $500.

Q: Does it matter to NETA what method that my school or I use to pay our VFT content provider?
A: No, the method of upfront payment to the VFT content provider is the decision of the payer.

Q: Do I have to have our VFT program date approved in advance by NETA?
A: No, the date of the VFT program presentation is a decision of the teacher, in collaboration with the VFT content provider. NETA asks that our grant reviewers be allowed at least one week to review and approve the grant request.

Q: What can I, as a teacher, do to maximize the value of the VFT program with my students?
A: NETA has a number of suggestions: 1) Have students research all that they can about the VFT program topic and originator of the content and share with the class; 2) Have students find the top scientist, inventor, discoverer, or authority on the topic and try to establish an e-mail or video dialogue with that person, if that person is still living; 3) If the VFT program lends itself to artifacts and tangible items (e.g. fur, bones, historic documents, etc…) that the students can touch, try to arrange these items in advance of the VFT program to enrich the learning experience.

**Program is subject to change