CAIS School Innovation Grants Committee defines innovation as "the implementation of new ideas that add value.”  The committee received 14 applications representative of the diverse CAIS Membership in school type, school gender and region. The committee engaged in thoughtful deliberations pertaining to the purpose and design of the research projects presented and positive impact to individual school communities as well as the greater CAIS community. Several steps were taken in the assessment process to ensure impartiality.

• The assessment criteria used by the committee was as follows: 
• The purpose of the project is clearly articulated and aligns with the appropriate category
• The purpose of the project is clearly aligned with the definition of innovation
• The project represents something new to their practice or context
• The project is able to be implemented in the allowable time frame
• The project adds value to the school community and the greater CAIS community
• The project clearly identifies the participants
• The problem of practice, challenge or issue has application across a number of CAIS schools
• The scope of the research is manageable within the time frame allotted to the projects.
• The plan for managing the research is clearly articulated and realistic

The grant recipients will undergo a mentoring process with the committee in the New Year, with the expectation to share their research outcomes with the greater CAIS community in the 2021-2022 school year. 

Thank you to all those who submitted their applications. The committee feels fortunate that there were so many excellent submissions with potential to positively impact schools.

2021-2022 APPLICATION FORM (CLOSED)

CAIS is committed to supporting innovation and improvement in our Member Schools. In August 2021, a new CAIS School Innovations Grants Committee was formed with the mandate to build school-based research capacity across CAIS schools through the administration and support of the CAIS School Innovation Grant program, and to promote research and innovation as a component of the professional growth process. This CAIS School Innovations Grants Committee is representative of the diverse CAIS Membership in region, school types and school size.

This Committee has advised on the revision and reshaping of the CAIS School Innovation Grants procedures and processes. We are pleased to present the revised Application Form 2021-2022 for the CAIS School Innovation Grants.

CAIS School Innovation Grants Committee defines innovation as “"the implementation of new ideas that add value.” See Demystifying Innovation: What It Is & Isn’t (Source: Medium) 

The Committee will consider applications for both education programs and school operations related projects. Criteria to evaluate the applications include:

• Project alignment with the definition of innovation.
• Ability to be implemented in the allowable time frame.
• Applicability of relevance across a number of CAIS schools; value add to the school community and the greater CAIS community.
• A clearly articulated and realistic plan for managing the research.

The research needs to be completed by the end of the 2021-2022 school year, followed by a required sharing component with the CAIS community. A total of five grants will be awarded in the amount of $1,000 CAD each, to support the recipients to produce internal, school-based research. Approval from the researcher’s Head of School or Supervisor is required to proceed with the application.

The application due date is November 23, 2021 at 5:00 PM ET. The Committee will review all applications in early December 2021. You will be notified of the result of your application by December 17, 2021. 

Committee members will support, mentor and monitor the research process for successful grant recipients from January to June 2022. The sharing component will take place beginning fall 2022.

Please read the instructions page in the application form carefully.

If you have any questions or technical challenges while completing your application, please contact CAIS Research Coordinator David Goodman at dgoodman@cais.ca.

We look forward to receiving your application.