Beginning in September, teachers in Bridgeport Public Schools will be able to participate in DonorsChoose, a not-for-profit website designed to help teachers attain necessary classroom resources and project funding. Teachers who participate in DonorsChoose.org have the opportunity to submit proposals for classroom materials and learning experiences. These proposals will be viewed by individuals around the country who will learn about each classroom’s needs and choose to fund a project they find most compelling, such as:
- Improving vocabulary with a class set of dictionaries ($150)
- Discouraging teen pregnancy with ‘Baby-Think-It-Over’ dolls ($500)
- Taking students to Washington, D.C. to watch the Supreme Court consider a case ($2,000)
According to DonorsChoose, “Every year, teachers spend $1 billion out of their own pockets to purchase supplemental classroom supplies. DonorsChoose encourages good ideas and effective teaching by providing a simple way to fulfill these small, teacher-directed needs.”
To become a DonorsChoose teacher, simply:
- Register at www.donorschoose.org,
- Write a brief project description (approximately 400 words) describing the proposed student project and how students will benefit,
- Identify the specific resources, prices, and answer a few brief questions; and
- Watch as your idea is funded!
In an effort to help teachers become acquainted with the donation process, the BBOE is providing teachers the opportunity to become donors. The first two BPS teachers to submit an email to
jbernheim@bridgeportedu.net with the subject DonorsChoose will receive a $25 gift card to donate to the grant request of their choice.
By means of the DonorsChoose program, BPS teachers can start off the new school year with the resources needed to continue to “Expect Great Things!”
Since 2000 when DonorsChoose was founded by a public school teacher, donors from 50 states have provided over $13 million worth of educational resources to support more than half a million public school students.
ABC World News, May 2007
