Chicago Foundation for Education

Study Group Grants provide experienced teachers (Study Group Coaches) the opportunity to lead a Study Group around a proven Instructional Strategy with 4-6 teachers (Study Group Team Members) who are willing to implement and adapt the strategy in their own classroom.

$300 Team Member Grants provide teachers interested in participating in 12 hours of Study Group Meetings with experienced CFE Study Group Coaches, receiving the coaching and support needed to learn and implement new teaching strategies. Fellow CPS teachers (CFE Coach grant winners) lead Study Groups, mentoring teams of 6-8 teachers in the use of research-based Instructional Strategies they have successfully implemented in their classrooms.

Teachers can apply for a Study Group Team Member Grant by choosing an Instructional Strategy they are interested in adapting and implementing in their own classrooms based on the current CFE Study Group Grant Catalog. Applications are included in the Study Group Grant Catalog which is distributed to all CPS elementary schools. Team Member grant recipients will meet their Coaches and fellow Team Members at our annual Study Group Dinner in the spring, where they will begin to plan the locations, dates, and times of their 12 hours of group meetings, to be held between June and December.

CFE awards a total of $1,000 ($300 grant and $700 stipend) and up to 28 CPDUs to CPS elementary teachers who demonstrate the creativity, leadership, and professionalism necessary to organize and facilitate Study Groups of 6-8 teachers around Instructional Strategies proven to be successful in helping students learn. CFE's Study Group Grant Catalog outlines the Instructional Strategies for teachers who want to apply for a Study Group Team Member Grant. Study Group Coaches attend a one-day training session where they learn how to effectively facilitate a Study Group. Coaches will lead a total of 12 hours of Study Group professional development sessions between June and December.

"Building study groups around an instructional strategy is a wonderful idea for fostering schools as true learning communities"

--Arne Duncan, CEO

Chicago Public Schools

"Study Groups are an amazing way for teachers to be involved in a support group that they don't often have at their own schools. It's a place where voices are heard, prior knowledge is valued and there is flexibility for a group to start with a primary goal, but then go where it needs to go."

--Tracy Kwock

Study Group Coach

"Managing students who are engaging in the inquiry process has been a challenge for me. Having a Study Group to troubleshoot, plan, and celebrate successes with colleagues made a big difference. I felt like I could try new methods because I knew I could get feedback and support from the other members of the group."

--Michele Timble

Study Group Team Member