NASSP/MetLife: Breakthrough Schools

The National Association of Secondary School Principals and the MetLife Foundation Breakthrough Schools program highlights high-achieving middle or high schools, or schools that are making dramatic improvements in student achievement, whose best practices and outstanding results can inform other schools as they further their own improvement efforts. Maximum award: $5,000, plus being featured in the association's monthly magazine, Principal Leadership; principals of Breakthrough Schools participate in dissemination activities at the NASSP National Conference and other venues throughout the year. Eligibility: high-achieving K-12 schools with 40 percent or more students eligible for free and reduced-priced meals. Deadline: June 30, 2015. More

ESA: President's Prizes for Outstanding Achievement in Primary and Secondary Education

The Entomological Society of America's President's Prizes for Outstanding Achievement in Primary and Secondary Education recognize educators who have gone beyond the traditional teaching methods by using insects as educational tools. Maximum award: $400 to the winner's school to purchase teaching materials required to expand the use of insects in the teaching curriculum; $400 to the winner for expenses associated with travel required to present a paper or poster on the use of insects in primary or secondary educational programs at a peer professional venue of their choosing; gratis registration to attend ESA's annual meeting; and an $800 award to the winner for expenses associated with travel, hotel arrangements, and all other costs associated with attending the annual meeting. Eligibility: primary teachers (grades K-6) and secondary teachers (grades 7-12). Deadline: July 1, 2015. More

Dow Jones Fund: National High School Journalism Teacher of the Year

The National High School Journalism Teacher of the Year award identifies outstanding high school journalism teachers who have done exemplary work in the previous academic year. Maximum award: laptop computer, travel and lodging expenses to national conference, per diem for substitute teacher fees, and a quarterly column for the Fund's newspaper; the winner also attends a seminar at the Poynter Institute for Media Studies in St. Petersburg, Fla., and a senior student at the winning teacher's school will receive $1,000 to study journalism, based on performance in a writing contest held at his or her school. Eligibility: high school teachers with at least three years' experience. Deadline: July 9, 2015. More

Dollar General/ALA/AASL/NEA: School Library Disaster Relief

Dollar General, in collaboration with the American Library Association (ALA), the American Association of School Librarians (AASL), and the National Education Association (NEA) is sponsoring a school library disaster relief fund for public school libraries in states served by Dollar General. The fund will provide grants to public schools whose school library program has been affected by a disaster. Grants replace or supplement books, media and/or library equipment in the library setting. Maximum award: $20,000 to replace or supplement books, media, and/or library equipment. Eligibility: public school libraries preK-12 within 20 miles of a Dollar General store, distribution center, or corporate office, which have lost their building or incurred substantial damage or hardship due to a natural disaster (tornado, earthquake, hurricane, flood, avalanche, mudslide), fire, or an act recognized by the federal government as terrorism; or have absorbed a significant number (more than 10 percent enrollment) of displaced/evacuee students. Deadline: none. More