4K Arts Integration Grants

About This Grant

Purpose

These grants help CERDEP preschool providers offer arts integrated experiences for students and professional development for teachers to use the arts to increase kindergarten readiness.

Projects may increase kindergarten readiness by:

• building connections between the arts and other subject areas in a meaningful way,
• providing artist-in-residence experiences for students that include professional development for teachers,
• and addressing gaps in arts access that have previously impeded learning in the classroom.

Please Note

Grant guidelines are subject to change until applications open.

• Eligibility

  1. The applicant must be:
     • In a public school or school district in South Carolina
     • SC Department of Education Childhood Early Reading and Development Education Program (CERDEP) 4K Provider
       • A list of every SCDE CERDEP site can be found here: https://first5sc.org/providers/?category=child-care-early-education
       • To view only CERDEP sites you must filter by clicking on the “S.C. Dept. of Education – 4K – CERDEP” checkbox.
  2. In accordance with federal government policy, all organizations – including (but not limited to) private schools, public school districts, government entities, and nonprofit organizations – must provide a valid UEI number* to receive an SCAC grant award. *Learn about the new grant requirement: Unique Entity ID (UEI)

     Note: If a grantee is using a fiscal agent/receiver, separate UEI numbers must be provided for both the applicant organization and the fiscal agent/receiver.

     • Individual public schools may use their school district's Unique Entity ID and do not need to register separately.

• Restrictions

  • A 4K provider may not receive funding for the same purchase or project twice.
  • A 4K provider may receive no more than two 4K Arts Integration grant awards per fiscal year.
  • A 4K provider may not receive more than $2,000 in 4K Arts Integration grant funds per fiscal year.
    • For example, if one teacher from Arts Drive Child Development Center receives $1,200, the most another teacher at Arts Drive Child Development Center can receive in that fiscal year is $800.
  • Multiple teachers from the same 4K provider may apply, jointly or separately. We encourage joint applications when possible to maximize the value of the application process for applicant providers. When multiple teachers from the same 4K provider apply jointly, one teacher must be designated as the contact person for this grant.
    • Example 1: If a 4K teacher needs $300 for an arts integration professional development opportunity and a music teacher at the same 4K Provider needs $700 in supplies, they may submit one application for $1,000.
    • Example 2: If two 4K teachers are working together on an arts integrated learning unit, they may jointly apply for a $2,000 grant to fund the interdisciplinary project.
  • If a teacher teaches at multiple 4K providers, they may not apply for a multi-preschool grant. Instead, the teacher should choose which 4K provider will apply for the grant. A teacher who teaches at multiple 4K providers may apply for separate grants for each provider.
    • For example, if you teach art at Main Street Preschool and Arts Drive Child Development Center, you may apply for a grant to fund an artist in residence at Main Street Preschool and a separate grant to fund an artist in residence at Arts Drive Child Development Center.
  • Arts organizations and units of higher education that offer preschool programming are ineligible to apply for this grant but are eligible for Preschool Community Arts Partners Grant.

• Use of Funds

  4K Arts Integration Grant funds may be used to pay for the following:

  • Consumable and non-consumable resources directly related to Artist Residencies or Professional Development.
    • Please note that all material purchases must be made within the project dates set in your grant application and confirmed in the grant contract. Grant funds are considered spent—and the “end date” of your project is when materials are received.
  • Arts-based professional development opportunities and related costs.
  • Field Trips or Performances with classroom extensions and/or follow-up learning opportunities for teachers.
    • Example: The 4K students at Main Street Preschool take a field trip to see a musical theatre performance about colors. A Teaching Artist from the performance follows-up with a classroom residency in which students work to create paintings based on the ideas presented in the performance. The Teaching Artists debriefs with the teacher after the lesson to discuss how to regularly incorporate this type of activity into the classroom.
  • Artists in Residence – Please note:
    • The artist in residence must spend peer-to-peer training time with the teacher to ensure growth in the teacher’s skill level and ability to teach the skill in future years.
    • Grant recipients must use members of the S.C. Arts Directory for grant-funded activities, detailed as follows:

  If you are hiring artists or teaching artists

  If you are a school or school district: SCAC grant recipients that are schools or school districts are required to use members of the S.C. Arts Directory for grant-funded group lectures, demonstrations, performances, classroom residencies, and short-term arts teaching experiences.

  If you are an organization: SCAC grant recipients that are organizations are strongly encouraged to use members of the S.C. Arts Directory for grant-funded group lectures, demonstrations, performances, classroom residencies, and short-term arts teaching experiences.

  Artists labeled as Certified Teaching Artists on the Arts Directory have been additionally vetted by SCAC through the submission of sample lesson plans, recorded teaching samples, and letters of recommendation; we encourage but do not require grant-funded teaching artist residencies to employ Certified Teaching Artists. Additionally, Arts Access SC Teaching Artists have trained with Arts Access SC to provide children, youth, and adults with disabilities quality arts experiences. NOTE: If working in a school environment, always check with the individual school or district about policies related to hiring artists, arts organizations, and teaching artists.

  • Learn more about the S.C. Arts Directory
  • Search for an artist

• Additional Requirements of this Grant

  Any activities carried out within this grant must align with state guidelines regarding COVID-19.

• Priority

  Priority may be given to schools in SCAC FY23 Opportunity Initiative Counties:

  • • Allendale
    • Calhoun
    • Cherokee
    • Clarendon
    • Dillon
    • Edgefield
    • Hampton
    • Laurens
    • Lee
    • Marion
    • Marlboro
    • Newberry
    • Saluda

• Deadlines & Grant Period

  Deadlines

  Applications for 4K Arts Integration Grants are received on a rolling basis. Application reviews take place during the first full week of each month (second full week of January 2023).

  Applications must be submitted at least five weeks before grant-funded activities begin or purchases are made. However, earlier applications are encouraged. Applicants do not need to wait until five weeks before their project starts; you may submit an application as soon as you are ready.

  Application deadlines are:

  • December 6, 2022, for projects beginning January 17, 2023 or later.
    Notification (awarded or declined) is expected the week of January 9, 2023.
  • January 9, 2023, for projects beginning February 13 or later.
    Notification (awarded or declined) is expected the week of February 6.
  • February 6, 2023, for projects beginning March 13 or later.
    Notification (awarded or declined) is expected the week of March 6.
  • March 6, 2023, for projects beginning April 17 or later.
    Notification (awarded or declined) is expected the week of April 10.

  Applications may be submitted until 11:59 p.m. (Eastern Time) on the deadline date. However, please be aware that staff members will not be available to assist you with questions or technical difficulties after SCAC closes at 5 p.m. that day.

  Awarded applicants can expect contracts at the time of notification.

  Grant Period

  December 6, 2022–May 1, 2023

  All grant purchases and activities must be complete by May 1. If you have a program (for example, a teaching residency) occurring after May 1, please reach out to Arts Learning Director Kimberly Washburn Motte (803.734.8694 | kmotte@arts.sc.gov) before applying.

• Funding & Match

  Funding

  Up to $2,000 per grant. A school may receive up to two (2) 4KA grants for a total of $2,000 per fiscal year (see Restrictions section of these guidelines for details)

  Matching Requirements

  1:3 (grantee:SCAC)

  • A 1:3 match means that for each dollar granted, the grantee must match with $0.33 of their own funds.
    • For example, with a $2,000 grant, the preschool would match with $667.)
  • The match for this category must be 100% cash; no in-kind expenses may be counted as part of the applicant’s match.
  • Funds may not be matched with another SCAC grant or with any federal funds.

How to Apply

Applications are accepted through our grants portal, which uses the Foundant platform.

New to Foundant? For frequently asked questions, registration instructions, and other helpful information, we highly recommend visiting the Grants Portal FAQ, before you begin working in the system.

PLEASE NOTE: You are urged to consider the Review Criteria (detailed in the “Review Process” section of these guidelines, under “After You Apply”) as you prepare your application materials. These criteria will be used to evaluate your application and determine the funding of your proposal.

• Your Grants Portal Account

  The applicant must have an active account in our Grants Portal.

  • If you have previously used Submittable to apply for other SCAC grants or programs, please note that the grants portal is a different system. Your Submittable credentials will not work; you will need a grants portal account to apply for this grant.
  • If you have used the grants portal as both an artist and as a contact for a school or organization, be sure you log on with the correct account to apply for this grant.

  Helpful Hint: The primary contact person for this grant should be the arts teacher who will administer the grant activities. To ensure the correct person is listed as the primary contact for your application, that person should be the one to log on and click the “Apply” button to start the application. The primary contact person for this grant should be the person who will:

  1. edit and submit the grant application;
  2. manage this grant’s activities, and
  3. receive and respond to communications from the SCAC about this grant.

• Starting Your Application

  1. Follow the “Apply” link below. The online grants management system will open in a new browser tab or window.
  2. Log on, then click the “Apply” link at the top of your Applicant Dashboard.
  3. Find “4K Arts Integration” in the list of available grant applications, and click the “Apply” button to the far right.

Application preview coming soon!

After You Apply

• Review Process and Criteria

  Review Process

  The Grants Team will review submitted applications for completeness and compliance with guideline and application requirements. A review panel of early childhood arts integration professionals will evaluate the applications based on the published review criteria. An applicant’s panel comments are available to them upon request. Staff will then develop funding recommendations, based on these evaluations and the availability of funds. Final funding decisions are approved by the Deputy Director. Recommendations will be presented to the Board of Commissioners, which makes final award decisions. Recommendations will be presented to the SCAC Board of Commissioners, which makes final award decisions. Award notification is expected in four to five weeks, as detailed in the “Deadlines & Grant Period” section of these guidelines.

  Review Criteria

  Addressing the SC Profile of the Ready Kindergartner and Learning Loss (40%)

  • The applicant identifies how grant-funded purchases or activities address the SC Profile of the Ready Kindergartner.
  • The applicant identifies how grant-funded purchases or activities address learning loss as a result of the COVID-19 Pandemic.
  • The applicant explains how arts integrated practices address the unique needs of low-income students, students with disabilities, English learners, racial and ethnic minorities, students experiencing homelessness, and/or children and youth in foster care.

  Funded Professional Development, Activities and Materials (35%)

  • The applicant provides thorough information about the preschool’s mission and demographics
  • The applicant clearly identifies the arts integration professional development provided through this project, or the activities taking place as a result of professional development.
  • The applicant clearly identifies the activities and/or materials to which they would gain access through this grant.
  • The applicant compellingly explains how the materials and/or activities would allow them to implement arts integration teaching practices in their 4K classroom.
  • The applicant has a realistic sense of how many students will be impacted by this grant.

  Budget (10%)

  • The applicant presents a balanced budget for the project or purchase.
  • The applicant clearly documents all expenses in their budget and expense detail.

  Priority (15%)

  • The applicant is in an SCAC FY23 Opportunity Initiative County.

• If You Receive a Grant Award

  If your application is funded, you (and your fiscal agent/receiver, if applicable) will enter into a contractual agreement with the South Carolina Arts Commission, and you must comply with all requirements stated in that contract. You will receive notification and instructions when your contract is available in the grants portal. You must submit your completed contract packet, including signatures and other documentation as instructed, by the date indicated in the system. You must also complete all other assigned follow ups by the due date.

  Please note: Any significant revisions to grant-funded activities must be approved in writing, in advance, by the SCAC.

  Additional details about managing an SCAC grant are available on our agency website.

  Grant Payments

  Payments are reimbursement-based. This means any expenses must be financed up front by the grantee and/or a cooperating entity.

  An accurate Final Report, listing only expenses allowable under the program guidelines for the certified time period, must be submitted in order to receive payment for the grant award.

  Final Report

  ALL GRANTEES are required to file a final report at the end of the grant period. The final report due date is stated in the grant contract. Failure to submit an accurate and complete final report by the due date will result in cancellation of the award and repayment of any funds received. SCAC will not fund applicants who have outstanding final reports.

I’m Here to Help!

• If you are seeking advisement, please contact Arts Learning Director Kimberly Washburn Motte (803.734.8694 | kmotte@arts.sc.gov) before submitting an application.
• If you have submitted an application, and/or you have a current grant, please contact the Grants Team (803.734.8695 | grants@arts.sc.gov).

Grants Coaching

We also highly recommend a visit to our Grants Coaching webpage, for

• open coaching calls for artists,
• category-specific information for grant applicants,
• topic sessions, and
• opportunities for one-on-one assistance.

Missed a group call or session? Look for the video link to access a recording of that presentation.