|
What is the Lexington Education Foundation (LEF)?
LEF is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization founded in 1989 to support
educational excellence in Lexington Public Schools. LEF grants finance
educational opportunities outside the scope of the school operating
budget and target areas such as innovation in curriculum and instruction,
professional development, and teacher mentoring.
Who runs LEF?
A voluntary Board of Directors comprised primarily of members of
the Lexington community runs LEF. The board is made up of a diverse
group of individuals who bring a wide variety of skills and professional
expertise to the LEF Board, and who are nominated by current board
and advisory board members to serve on specific board committees
(teams) for terms of two or more years.
Board members serve on one of seven working teams:
Communications, Fundraising, Evaluation and Planning, Events, Marketing, Programs and Board Development.
The LEF Board annually elects a President, along with a Vice-President
for each team; this group serves as the Board’s Executive Committee,
along with the immediate past Board President. LEF is also supported
by an Advisory Board of former LEF Board members who provide counsel,
institutional history, and specialized expertise.
How is LEF funded?
LEF depends primarily on the tax-deductible contributions of Lexington
residents, businesses, and others interested in supporting Lexington
Public Schools. LEF’s current year grants and operations are
funded by its Annual Appeal, two major annual fundraising events
(LEF Trivia Bee and Educated Tastes) and its STAR (Staff, Teacher,
Appreciation and Recognition) program. In addition, significant
support is provided through a program of corporate partnerships
and sponsorships. The Endowment Fund, established in 2001, supports
the LEF mission in perpetuity.
What is the relationship between LEF and Lexington Public Schools?
While independent of the school department, LEF works closely with
Lexington Public Schools to ensure that LEF grants and fellowships
not only further LEF’s mission, but also reflect school system
goals and are implemented effectively in classrooms.
In addition, the Superintendent of Schools, a School Committee member,
and the President of the Lexington Education Association serve the
Board in an ex officio capacity.
What is the difference between LEA and LEF?
LEA and LEF are two separate and distinct organizations.
LEA is the Lexington Education Association, Lexington's professional
association for teachers.
LEF (Lexington Education Foundation) is a 501(c)(3) charitable
organization dedicated to supporting educational excellence for
the children of Lexington Public Schools. However, as previously
noted, the President of the LEA serves in an ex-officio capacity
advising the LEF Board, along with the Supt. of Schools and a representative
of the School Committee.
What are LEF’s three different grant programs?
- Program Grants:
The "granddaddy" of LEF programs, Program Grants fund
dynamic classroom and curriculum projects, as well as professional
development opportunities for educators. Grants are available
to teachers, staff, administrators and community members and touch
on all facets of life in a school.
- Summer Fellowships:
Instituted in 2002, Summer Fellowships are available for eligible
Lexington Public School teachers with professional status. Summer
Fellowships are used to attend courses, seminars and workshops,
or to engage in research, curriculum planning, or independent
study, with the ultimate aim of benefiting students upon return
to the classroom.
- School Community Grants:
Started in 2003, School Community Grants (SCG) fund smaller-scale
creative educational initiatives or community building activities
within each school. Each school community, led by the principal,
can apply for grant money to fund programs in response to specific
needs at their schools. Unlike LEF’s other grant programs,
SCG’s are community-driven; each school works collaboratively
to determine how it can best use the money to ensure the greatest
impact among its students.
How are grants awarded?
LEF considers grant applications from Lexington Public School educators,
including classroom teachers, specialists, and administrators, and
community members in collaboration with an LPS staff member. Their
ideas are inspired by any number of sources, including their own experiences,
study, reading, reflections, and discussions with colleagues.
The grant review sub-committee of LEF Board and Advisory Board members
reviews each grant application extensively and meets several times
to discuss each application in- depth. LEF evaluates each application
to determine whether the proposed grant meets LEF’s stringent
funding criteria, and is an effective use of its limited funds. Following
this competitive and confidential internal grant review, LEF awards
grants based on merit and availability of funds.
What kinds of projects does LEF fund?
Projects range from small initiatives involving a single teacher
in a classroom to major programs touching thousands of students
in every grade across the school system. Grants cover all academic
areas, as well as technology, art, music, physical education, social
competency and matters affecting student life. While the subject
areas in grants awarded vary from year to year based on the applications
received, the basic mission remains the same: to enhance educational
excellence in Lexington Public Schools.
What LEF-funded initiatives have been integrated into the schools?
Project Days (formerly Horace’s Fridays), Big Backyard, Reading
Recovery, SMARTBoards, Family Math, Mathematics Interest Centers,
Collins Writing Program, Lexington High School Art Gallery, Middle
School Fitness Centers, Project Adventure, Open Circle, the Responsive
Classroom, Asian Library Collection and the Estabrook Greenhouse
are just a few of the programs that were launched by LEF grants
and have since been integrated into the regular school curriculum.
How can I support the Foundation?
There are various ways to give: by making a donation to the STAR
(Staff, Teacher Appreciation & Recognition) Program in honor
of a teacher or staff member; by supporting the Trivia Bee and Educated
Tastes, LEF’s major fundraising events; and/or by directing
a gift to the Annual Fund or the Endowment. Businesses are also
invited to make donations through LEF’s Corporate Giving Program,
which includes corporate sponsorship opportunities. All donations
are tax-deductible.
How do I know my donation is used wisely?
LEF has a fiduciary responsibility to use donors’ money in
compliance with its mission. To that end, LEF has established a
rigorous system to ensure that it funds only those proposals that
meet its grant criteria, show a logical relationship between budget
and planning, and have merit. LEF engages in an ongoing dialogue
with administrators and teachers to better understand the needs
of the system, and works with teachers to help them with the crafting
of their proposals.
LEF requires that grant recipients
- report on the progress of their projects throughout the year
- show how their grants enhance student learning and/or improve
teaching practices
- discuss their projects with colleagues, with an eye toward replication
of successful grants
- submit a final evaluation of the project's original goals.
As a 501(c)(3) corporation, LEF is also subject to the laws of
the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the U.S. Internal Revenue
Service. LEF is audited annually by an independent accounting firm,
whose reports are available upon request. LEF does not relieve taxpayer
responsibility for funding the schools, and does not substitute
for or replace lost tax dollars.
How can I be part of LEF?
LEF depends on volunteers for all aspects of its operations, and
it’s a great way to get to know more about LEF. Volunteer opportunities
are available in publicity, fundraising, events planning, publications
and more. In addition, at times future board members are identified
by serving in a volunteer capacity for LEF.
Call LEF office at (781) 372-3288,
or email info@lexedfoundation.org
How do I contact LEF?
By mail: 594 Marrett Road, Suite 7, Lexington, MA 02421
By phone: 781-372-3288.
By email: info@lexedfoundation.org
|
