Index of Articles on this site
written by Sheila Fernley (or others)
on topics relevant to the workshops
presented on this site.

• Planning Proposals that Get Funded
  
  Planning project proposals or initiatives that get funded isn't difficult, but it does take advance preparation. You have to make time to plan grant proposals. This will help you to sell your project concept to community donors and partners; and of course to the entity that is providing the primary funding source for your grant proposal. Learn from grant writing experts Sheila Fernley and Nickie Weaver what it takes to increase your chances of being awarded grant funding.
• 8 Elements of Project Sustainability
  
  Project planning should include a realistic and well thought out sustainability plan. This article highlights the eight essential elements that a school or district should consider when undergoing project planning or applying for a grant that requires matching project funding. Community participation is a critical part of project sustainability; however, many schools and districts plan projects and grants without soliciting input or funding from strategic community partnerships. Do you really know what your project health looks like? Learn what it takes to determine if your education project has the "right stuff" to be sustainable for the long haul.
• Forming a Project Sustainability Plan
  
  For a project or initiative to have long-term success a project sustainability plan must be developed. Sustainability is a process that begins in the early stages of project planning. Sustainability development is also important for a project to obtain investors, community donors and grant funding. Planning committees should include community organizations. These community partnerships are critical to developing a vision that expands beyond one organization and is supported long-term by these community partnerships. Learn what steps are necessary to develop a successful project sustainability plan.
• Sustainability: What Separates Good Grants from Great Programs
  
  Well written or funded grants do not necessary equate to great programs or initiatives. Can your project or initiative go the distance? Is it sustainable? Great programs begin with a well developed sustainability plan. Learn from grant writing expert Sheila Fernley what project sustainability is and what grantees say has the greatest impact on sustainability efforts.
• RtI and Its Implications for Private Schools – Part 1
  
  In 2004 the reauthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act changed the landscape when it came to referring parentally-placed children with learning disabilities enrolled in private schools for special education evaluation. States no longer adopted one model for determining learning disabilities. RtI was suddenly recognized as one of the primary methods for determining if a child was a child with a learning disability. Learn what criteria states have adopted for identifying children with learning disabilities and the implications that Response to Intervention has had on private schools and religious schools. This is part one of a two-part article that examines the need for federal guidance pertaining to private schools and RtI.
• RtI and Its Implications for Private Schools – Part 2
  
  Implementing RtI is presenting challenges for many public schools, however, the implications of RtI for private schools and religious schools are even greater. More often than not, private schools do not have the resources that public schools have. Limited school resources and the lack of RtI guidance for private schools presents challenges to implementing this approach for identifying children with learning disabilities and meeting the local school districts expectations for referring a child for special education evaluation. Learn more about the implications of RtI for private schools and what private schools can do to ease the challenges of implementing RtI. This is part two of a two-part article that examines the need for federal guidance pertaining to private schools and RtI.
• Framework for Planning Meaningful Professional Development
  
  Too few schools develop a framework for planning meaningful teacher professional development. Effective professional development for teachers and staff doesn't just happen. A school-based team should plan its staff development, monitor fidelity of implementation and evaluate professional development results. This article examines what teachers think about professional development and shares with school districts and schools the steps to building a framework for meaningful staff development.