CTE Program Enhancement Grant

Geographic Scope: Fairfax County Public Schools, Virginia

Program Purpose: Support Career and Technical Education (CTE) program enhancement by helping educators identify challenges and develop solutions to improve student achievement and experiences.

Eligibility

• Primary Applicants: Any CTE program teacher in Fairfax County Public Schools
• Application Structure: Individual teachers, teams, or collaborative groups may apply
• Beneficiaries: Individual classrooms, entire schools, regions, groups of schools, or the school division
• Continuation Grants: Applications for continuation of current grants considered in future years, once the current grant has expired and final report submitted and accepted

Focus Areas & Priorities

• Innovative, cross-curricular, learner-centered projects with effective outcomes
• Programs that close achievement gaps through family involvement, staff development, student learning, and school-to-business/community partnerships
• Priority: Program enhancements that maximize the financial reach of the grant program
• School improvement elements incorporated into projects

What FATE Funds

• Projects not funded through school division or local school budgets
• Innovative CTE program enhancements
• Replicable solutions

What FATE Does NOT Fund

• Projects already funded by school division or local school budgets

Selection Criteria

• Clearly defined educational need with demonstrated impact on school/community
• Fully described strategy with brief action plan
• Clear link between proposed strategy and educational need
• Plan for measuring anticipated outcomes included
• Cost-efficient budget clearly supporting project tasks
• School improvement elements incorporated
• Plan can be replicated if successful
• Application free of educational jargon for non-educator understanding

Grant Administration

• Funds released directly to school or department, not individuals
• Grant remains with school/department if applicant(s) leave after award
• All applications reviewed by CTE Coordinator prior to FATE evaluation

Additional Requirements

• Applicants must be willing to provide PowerPoint or similar presentation to FATE upon request
• FATE may request presentation use for publicity at public events at their discretion
• Winning applicants may be asked to appear at events or discuss program success

Application Process

Status: CLOSED for SY2025-2026 cycle (opened October 14, 2025; closed November 17, 2025)

Next Opening: October 14, 2026 (projected annual cycle)

Application Format

• Method: Google Form submission
• Required: Completed form submission
• Notification Requirement: Principals must be made aware of grant submission

Required Materials & Information

• Clearly defined educational need statement
• Description of impact on school/community
• Justification that grant funds projects not funded through school division or local school budgets
• Fully described strategy with brief action plan
• Clear explanation of link between proposed strategy and educational need
• Plan for measuring anticipated outcomes
• Cost-efficient budget that clearly supports project tasks
• Demonstration of school improvement elements
• Description of plan replicability
• Plain language explanation (free of educational jargon)
• Commitment to provide PowerPoint or similar presentation upon request
• Agreement allowing FATE to use presentation for publicity purposes

Selection & Review

1. All applications reviewed by CTE Coordinator prior to FATE board evaluation
2. Applications evaluated against selection criteria
3. Awards made based on limited available funding
4. Winning applicants notified and may be asked to present at events