Success Story: Securing a Fund for Improvement of Education (FIE) Grant to Address Nevada's Personnel Shortages

Nancy Kuhles, SLP and Christine Verre-Tierney, SLP

Washoe County Public Schools, NV

About Nancy and Christine's Path to success:

What did you do?

In 2005, we brought together fifty stakeholders to create the Coalition to Address Nevada's Personnel Shortages in Special Education and Related Services using a $500.00 seed grant from ASHA. In 2009, it became evident that the Coalition's goals of recruitment and retention of special education and related service personnel would require an infusion of funds to support three identified critical needs in the state: increasing and expanding professional development programs in the 17 school districts, developing mentoring programs for existing personnel, and publicizing school-based careers and career opportunities in Nevada through the Get the Word Out campaign. We decided to apply for a Fund for Improvement of Education (FIE) Grant to support the Coalition's recruitment and retention goals, successfully securing a $24,000.00 grant. The FIE program supports grants that have been identified by Congress in appropriation legislation, and once awarded to public or private entities, the Fund will be administered through the U.S. Department of Education.  

What were your greatest challenges?

Our greatest challenges revolved around the process of gaining support and sponsorship of a grant through Nevada political representatives. Having no prior experience in requesting a federal grant, we relied on the expert guidance of Neil Snyder, ASHA's Director of Federal Advocacy, regarding the most effective ways of contacting and working with our Nevada Congressmen and Senators. As a result of Neil's guidance and keeping our eye on our intention to find funds to move forward in the Coalition's recruitment and retention efforts, we successfully earned the support of Senator Harry Reid.

A secondary challenge we faced involved compliance with the USDOE application requirements. Before the grant monies could be awarded, we had to submit an application to the USDOE that met all their requirements (e.g., an abstract, narrative, a grant management plan, project evaluation, and budget) which was consistent with the purpose of the grant contained in the Appropriations Act and was otherwise approvable.

What was the outcome of your effort?

The outcome of our efforts has been threefold: First, we secured a significant amount of money to take the Coalition's work to the next level. Second, as advocates for our profession and members of the Coalition to Address Nevada's Personnel Shortages in Special Education and Related Services, we have learned valuable lessons in how to effectively interact and connect with our political representatives. Finally, the application process offered valuable opportunities to organize and develop clear project objectives, timelines, and accountability measures that will assist us in future grant writing. We are very excited and grateful to have the means to address professional development, mentoring, and recruitment through the Get the Word Out campaign.

What advice would you give others?

Focus on initiating positive conversations with congressional representatives, state department of education representatives, and other state and local agencies regarding activities that directly impact students and student achievement.

• Gain their support. Although an agency may not have the financial support (or financial support at the time you asked for it), support can come in a variety of ways and be far reaching and long lasting.
• When approaching political leaders come to them with an idea or an action plan for how you might solve even one aspect of personnel shortages. Avoid meeting with them just to "admire the problem." Coming into a meeting with viable ideas will enlist more support from the political leaders.
• Discuss the possibility of "joining forces" on a targeted project. Start and continue conversations with congressional representatives as well as state representatives.
• Find out more about grants and grant writing. Many school districts have grant writing departments.
• Check out ASHA's School Finance Committee Web site.
• Contact Neil Snyder at nsnyder@asha.org.