The Calypso School First Foundation will award four grants for the 2011-2012 school year.  One Campus grant will provide 30 SoundPost portable classroom voice amplification systems.  Three other Grade level grants will award three SoundPost systems to individuals K-12 institutions.

The grant awards will be announced at the end of June 2011. 

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Classroom voice amplification is becoming increasingly important to K-12 education with growing evidence that lightweight, wireless teacher microphones help create inclusive learning environments for special needs students. In addition, a growing portfolio of independent research supports the performance improvements seen for all students where sound-field reinforcement systems are used in the classroom, even as class sizes grow.

Recent research findings validated by the U.S. Department of Education support the use of classroom voice amplification systems: 

• Improved student attention (particularly with A.D.D. students), resulting in easier classroom management, less student distraction, less need to repeat instruction, higher listening skills test scores.

• Increased student motivation, participation, and speaking confidence results from better hearing.

• 43% reduction in students placed in special education referrals where early K-6 classroom amplification was introduced.

Source: http://www.marrs-study.info/measure-results

The Campus grant award includes:  Thirty (30) SoundPost portable classroom voice amplification systems.

The three Grade level grant awards include: Three (3) SoundPost portable classroom voice amplification systems.

Each SoundPost classroom system kit includes:

•              SoundPost
•              WCM-RF wireless pendent microphone                          
•              Accessory lapel microphone
•              Belt pack / holster
•              SoundPost power supply
•              Microphone power supply / charger
•              Table Top base 

Eligibility

K-12 institutions, including public, non-profit, charter, and private schools are eligible to apply.  The Be Heard School Grant is not a needs-based grant program. As part of the grant program, each grant recipient agrees to participate, if requested, in pre-installation and post-installation research surveys to measure the impact of classroom voice amplification systems in your school.  In addition, if requested, each recipient agrees to be the focus of a case study for Calypso Systems during the 2011-2012 school year.

Application

Applications can be submitted online at www.calypsosystems.com/grant-apps and will be accepted:

March 7 – June 10, 2011. 

Applications must be submitted, or approved prior to submission, by a school or district technology administrator. Applicants may receive a phone call from Calypso Systems to clarify information submitted on the application.

 Timing

• Applications accepted: March 7 – June 10, 2011
• Announcement of grant awards: June 2011
• Product delivery: August (prior to start of 2011-2012 school year)

1. Applications are available solely to K-12 school districts and private schools.  Architects, consultants and contractors may not apply on behalf of their clients.
2. School districts awarded grants from Calypso Systems are prohibited from applying for additional grants from Calypso Systems for 24 months after the award date.
3. Calypso Systems retains sole and exclusive authority to review and decide upon grant awards and reserves the right to modify the terms and conditions of the Classroom Voice Amplification System Grant program (Be Heard School Grant) at any time, without prior notice.
4. Calypso Systems reserves the right to publicly discuss, promote and announce grant awards, which includes the right to identify recipient school districts and/or schools.
5. Recipients of a Calypso Systems Classroom Voice Amplification Grant may be required to participate in a pre and post grant program research survey as well as a case study conducted by Calypso Systems during the 2011-2012 school year.
6. Calypso Systems will provide the SoundPost product kit, which includes: 

•              SoundPost
•              WCM-RF wireless pendent microphone                          
•              Accessory lapel microphone
•              Belt pack / holster
•              SoundPost power supply
•              Microphone power supply / charger
•              Table Top base 

Calypso Systems will NOT provide any other equipment outside that mentioned above.