ANNUAL EDUCATOR GRANTS
Montclair educators, apply for a grant in one of four categories.
Each year, MFEE awards between $50,000-$75,000 to fund teachers' big ideas. What's yours?
2026 - 2027 Grants Calendar
August 17 - Application window opens.
November 1 - Applications due.
December 4 - Award notifications emailed.
Click here to accept your award and order.
IdeaLab Grants are awarded to Montclair Public School faculty for innovative projects focused on a yearly theme. These grants are designed to tap into educators’ expertise, amplify their voices, and support innovative approaches that spark deeper, lasting learning.
This year’s IdeaLab Grants’ theme is: Teach Your Passion.
Our Montclair educators bring an incredible range of talents, interests, expertise, and creativity to our schools. The Teach Your Passion IdeaLab Grant is an opportunity to bring those passions into the classroom and give students a chance to learn from the people who teach them in new and unexpected ways.
We invite you to think beyond the traditional curriculum and consider: What are you genuinely curious about? What do you love to create, explore, study, practice, or learn? How might you share that passion with your students through a unique lesson, workshop, pop-up experience, or project series?
What do you love?
When teachers are excited about what they are teaching, that excitement is contagious. Your interests can spark students’ curiosity, introduce them to new possibilities, and help them see learning through a different lens.
What are you passionate about?
* Geocaching in the outdoors * Crocheting intricate designs * Playing chess * Birdwatching in local parks * Making Zines * Taking creative photographs * Writing science fiction or . . . ?
This is your opportunity to bring something YOU love beyond the walls of the school into your classroom—and invite your students to explore it with you.
Minimum Criteria
Proposals will be evaluated based on:
-
Authenticity: Does the project offer a genuine and meaningful way to share your passion or expertise with students?
-
Feasibility: Is the plan realistic and ready to launch within a $500 budget?
-
Student Experience: Does it offer a meaningful, engaging, and hands-on experience for the intended student group?
Award Amounts
Awards are up to $500.
Technology Guidelines
Technology-related items are reviewed with the District Technology Coordinator. Requests must be directly tied to the project’s curricular and creative objectives.
Items MFEE Does Not Fund for this year’s IdeaLab Grant
-
Class trips or school-wide assemblies
-
Substitute teachers
-
Teacher stipends, unless the program requires a significant time commitment outside normal school hours
-
Furniture, including but not limited to flexible seating, chair cushions, bean bag chairs, rugs, bookshelves, desks, tables, chairs, dividers, and whiteboards - unless these items are essential to delivering an innovative program.
-
Laminators
Note: Unlike our other Educator Grants, consumables CAN be funded for this year’s IdeaLab Grant!
Download for review only a blank application here:
Educational Excellence Grants are awarded to Montclair Public School faculty for innovative and sustainable projects that will have a direct impact in the classroom.
Minimum Criteria
Proposals evaluated on:
-
Quality of the application,
-
Demonstrated need for the project
-
Sustainability
-
Extent to which it presents a creative way to enhance curricula
-
Staff encouraged to collaborate
Award Amounts
-
Range from $90 - $1,000.
-
Average grant size is approximately $600.
-
MFEE awards partial funding in many cases.
Technology Guidelines
Technology-related items are reviewed with the District Technology Coordinator. Technology requests must be directly tied to curricular objectives.
Items MFEE Does Not Fund
-
Class trips or school-wide assemblies.
-
Snacks or food to be served during the project.
-
Substitute teachers.
-
Teacher stipends to enable participation in the project unless the program requires a significant time commitment outside of normal school hours.
-
Consumable, one-time-use items, such as tshirts, pens, pencils. MFEE will consider some consumable items that are critical to the delivery of an innovative project.
-
All furniture, including but not limited to flexible seating, chair cushions, bean bag chairs, rugs, bookshelves, desks, tables, chairs, dividers, whiteboards.
-
Laminators.
Download for review only a blank application here:
Social and Emotional Learning Grants are awarded to Montclair Public School faculty for projects that enhance students' social and emotional competencies, including their ability to manage emotions, develop positive relationships, and show empathy for others.
Minimum Criteria
SEL Grant Proposals will be evaluated on:
-
Quality of the application,
-
Demonstrated need for the project
-
Sustainability
-
The application squarely addresses one of the 5 SEL core competencies: self- awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, responsible decision-making. The proposal clearly articulates how the project will directly impact one of these areas.
-
The application conveys a new idea that may not have been tried at all or in this way before, and/or addresses a specific, compelling SEL need.
-
The application clearly articulates the potential to impact student learning in a significant way. The potential benefits are clearly conveyed.
-
Staff are encouraged to collaborate.
Award Amounts
-
Range from $90 - $1,000.
-
Average grant size is approximately $700.
-
MFEE awards partial funding in many cases.
Technology Guidelines
Technology-related items are reviewed with the District Technology Coordinator. Technology requests must be directly tied to curricular objectives.
Items MFEE Does Not Usually Fund
-
Class trips or school-wide assemblies.
-
Snacks or food to be served during the project.
-
Substitute teachers.
-
Teacher stipends to enable participation in the project unless the program requires a significant time commitment outside of normal school hours.
-
Consumable, one-time-use items, such as tshirts, pens, pencils. MFEE will consider some consumable items that are critical to the delivery of an innovative project.
-
All furniture, including but not limited to flexible seating, chair cushions, bean bag chairs, rugs, bookshelves, desks, tables, chairs, dividers, whiteboards.
-
Laminators.
Download for review only a blank application here:
Greenwald Professional Development Grants are awarded to Montclair Public School faculty for professional development that strengthens their skills to improve student achievement. These grants are awarded in memory of beloved educator Marcia Greenwald.
Minimum Criteria
Greenwald PD Grant Proposals will be evaluated on:
-
Quality of the application
-
Demonstrated need for the project
-
Sustainability
-
The PD experience requested represents a new idea that may not have been tried at all or in this way before, and/or addresses a specific, compelling need. It clearly articulates the potential to impact student learning in a significant way. Applicants are required to check with the building principal that this PD does not qualify for district funding.
-
Clear articulation of how the applicant will share lessons learned with colleagues either through grade-level, school-wide or department meetings or district-wide PD days.
Award Amounts
-
Awards range from $75 to $400.
Items MFEE Does Not Fund
-
Teacher stipends to enable participation in the project unless the program requires a significant time commitment outside of normal school hours.
-
Travel, lodging, materials, and other expenses.
-
Courses required in order to obtain an advanced degree.
-
Programs occurring during the school day and/or that require the hiring of a substitute teacher.
-
Renewal grants for annually occurring workshops/conferences are not encouraged.
-
Membership fees for professional associations.
Download a blank application for review only:
