Toronto District School Board
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School Council Innovation Grant

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School Councils may submit one request for support up to $1,500 to support innovative (the development of new ideas) projects/activities that engages parents/caregivers (in-person, virtual and hybrid) and builds School Councils’ parents/caregivers/guardians capability around:

  • Anti-Black racism
  • Anti-Indigenous racism
  • Anti-racism
  • Equity/anti-oppression
  • Food sovereignty
  • Human Rights
  • Mental health and well-being
  • Creating safe spaces of belonging (tackling bullying and violence)
  • Engaging parents/caregivers in early literacy and numeracy

To learn more about the grant thematic areas, please visit the FAQ tab. 

School Councils may collaborate and submit one application; however, allocation will remain at a maximum of $1,500 per school.

NOTE: Collaborative projects must submit one application, however, please ensure the following criteria are provided:

  • The contact information provided in the application is the lead School Council of the project
  • The roles and responsibilities of each School Council in the collaborative project must be provided in the project description
  • The amount requested by each school for their part in the collaborative project must be provided in the project description (maximum $1500)
  • Funds awarded will be deposited in the lead School Council's Cc #xxxx0565 and GL #41500 account.
  • Responsibility of all collaborating School Councils to submit all invoices for reimbursement to the lead School Council no later than May 31, 2024

Eligibility 

Projects/Initiatives will be required to:

  • Demonstrate a commitment to respecting the role of all parents/caregivers in students’ educational experiences by addressing, racism anti-Black racism and anti-indigenous racism and centering the voices of racialized parents/caregivers, and elders
  • Provide spaces for the voices of racialized parents/caregivers, to address issues of equity anti-oppression, and human rights
  • Create a sense of belonging within the school environment by acknowledging and valuing parents/caregivers' identities and assets, ensuring their representation and reflection in all spaces, activities, and the building
  • Respect parents/caregivers as co-collaborators with teachers by ensuring their identities are embedded in the curriculum
  • Contribute to raising awareness around local food production, and building skills around planting, growing, harvesting, budgeting and distribution in a way that is sustainable in the long term
  • Increase affordable local food system control, including access to fresh and healthy food
  • Demonstrating a clear and measurable impact on improving mental health outcomes
  • Engaging parents and caregivers in early literacy and numeracy
  • Establishing safe and inclusive environments where individuals feel a sense of belonging and are empowered to prevent and address bullying and violence
  • Projects must be completed between November 20, 2023 – May 31, 2024
     

Eligible Activities/Initiatives 

Activities may include but are not limited to:

  • Workshops
  • Training session
  • Book Clubs
  • Information sessions with guest speakers
  • Parent Resource Creation
  • Conversation Circles
  • Artistic evening expressions (music, dance, food, painting etc.)
  • Roundtable sessions on improving the production or access to locally produced or harvested foods
  • Workshops on starting parents’/caregivers' gardens, economical cooking, budgeting, harvesting, etc.
  • Provide information and access to food and land teachings in the digital space. This can include online social media campaigns, videos, digital workshops, etc.
  • Mentorship programs 
  • Educational programs

Ineligible Initiatives 

  • Student initiatives
  • Staffing initiatives (appreciation, payment for presentations, etc.)
  • Equipment purchases (ie., gardening tools, computers, speakers, pots and pans)
  • Previous year expenditures
  • The purchase of perishable and/or non-perishable food for distribution (does not include ingredients for a project)
  • The purchase of gift cards or vouchers
  • Hotel, transportation, and speaker meals

Outcomes

  • Black, Indigenous, and racialized parents/caregivers feel a sense of belonging and agency
  • Parents/caregivers have enhanced awareness and understanding of racism, hate, and bias and put in place actions to disrupt and shift individual and Council practice
  • Parents/caregivers understand how to address local needs and systemic barriers in the school community
  • Improved knowledge of food security and self-sufficiency
  • Increased knowledge on how to access (local growing capacity) nutritious, affordable, local, culturally appropriate food
  • Enhance the mental well-being of individuals and communities, reduce stigma, and build a supportive and understanding community.
  • Have a positive impact on the safety environment of schools: incidents of bullying and violence within the community and encourage individuals to recognize and report instances of bullying and violence.
  • Foster a supportive and enriching home environment that enhances children’s early learning experiences and sets a strong foundation for their educational success.


NOTE: Any unused funds will be returned to the Board.

Key Timeline

Stages 2023-2024 Application Period
SCIG Application Opens September 20, 2023
SCIG Application Closes November 3, 2023
Midterm Report Due February 15, 2024
Goods Receipt Due May 31, 2024
Unspent Funds Withdrawn June 14, 2024
Final Report Due June 21, 2024