Greenacres offers educational programming for learners K-12 in four distinct areas: arts, equine, agriculture, and environment. For this study, we will focus the research on our environment education programming. Our environment education division is our most mature program area being formed in 1988 and impacts the most students annually. Since 1988, we have received significant anecdotal feedback from teachers that show we are supporting their classroom instruction. However, we are not currently measuring the quantitative impact of our programs on specific standards and our mission. Through this research, we hope to understand the relationship between our programs and educational outcomes.

In deciding which programs to quantify, we selected a second-grade program: Weather: Air & Water (See Appendix A). This is our most frequently taught program, averaging around fifty programs throughout the school year. By starting with our most popular program this study will provide, fundamentally, an opportunity to collect ample research data.

The objective of this proposal is to quantifiably answer the following questions:

• Improved understanding of the impact of our education programs on specific state standard learning objectives
• Impact of our programming relative to our mission and values

Provide a complete and detailed plan on how the objectives will be achieved along with anticipated outcomes. Applicants are expected to describe a research approach that achieves the objectives in a realistic and timely manner. Proposals must include sufficient detail to demonstrate understanding and soundness of the research approach. Proposals must also include a literature review, a detailed budget, methodology of how the research questions will be addressed, and conduct focus groups that incorporate teacher qualitative data after program attendance. The literature review must provide relevant background information and highlight knowledge gaps to be addressed by the research question. Our goal is to deliver this program to three different school districts with an aim of having ~10% of students with a rural background, ~50% with a highly resourced suburban background and ~40% with a low resourced urban background, totaling 420 students in the study.

The research plan should also include a description of how the research team will ensure regular communication with GAF and describe any assistance that may be required from GAF and the timeframes in which this assistance is required.

This research project is intended to result in a publication in scientific journals. The research plan should also include a proposed list of high quality education journals for publication submission.

The minimum deliverables necessary to complete the project include one peer-reviewed publication in a relevant scientific journal in addition to annual reports of tasks completed and data summaries as required. List all plans for disseminating findings including other anticipated deliverables such as multiple publications (with the intended number), professional development resources, conference presentations, educational field days, a presentation to our staff and board members, etc. All publications are required to be open-access.

Provide anticipated timelines for the research study based on the proposed tasks. Researchers are responsible for obtaining IRB approval for this study. Please include this process in your timeline. Incorporate time for potential impediments, including sensitivity to public school calendars and teacher constraints, that will minimize the need for time extensions. Include sufficient time for report review and revision – a fully edited and ready-for-publication final report is expected 90 days prior to project completion.

Provide a graphical representation of all tasks, quarterly meetings, and deliverables on a monthly basis or as required. Include achievable targets and keep in mind that the draft of the final report and two-page summary of tasks completed are due to GAF no later than 90 days prior to the project completion date.

Specify all potential fees* that may be charged to GAF. GAF may reject any fees not identified as part of the proposal. The applicant is responsible for making sure that only reimbursable costs are included. Include the detailed and fully itemized project costs by task. This should include pay rates and fringe for all personnel** involved in the project (including graduate student labor, fringe, and tuition as required). Applicants should include any items that are affiliated with the project (site-to-site travel, publication costs, conference travel, etc.). Justification for all capital expenses (e.g. computers, lab equipment, etc.) should be included and will be approved solely at the discretion of GAF.

The selected university will be responsible for the payment of all subcontractors associated with this project.

*Note that GAF does not pay institutional facilities & administrative (F&A) fees or indirect costs (IDC). All funds granted must be applied toward the proposed research project unless otherwise approved in writing by GAF.

**Personnel. The selected university will provide its own employees in the performance of the services and will be solely responsible for all aspects of the employment relationship, including, but not limited to, compensation of such employees and workers’ compensation, unemployment benefits, employment taxes, and all other employee benefits for such employees. The selected university shall operate this project without discrimination as to gender, race, age, creed, or national origin and will comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Include a brief description of the facilities necessary to undertake the research and a list of the equipment on hand considered integral to the project. Specify any facilities or equipment considered necessary for completing the research but not currently available or on hand. GAF has facilities across our locations which may be available for research purposes by request. All researchers working on GAF property are required to pass a fingerprint FBI background screening.

Include a brief introduction of each member of the research team, explain their role on the project, and how their experience will benefit the research. It is understood that graduate and undergraduate students may not be identified at the time of proposal submission.  However, the number of graduate and undergraduate students that will work on this project should be acknowledged in this section with a general description of what their role will be (e.g. what tasks they will perform).

Upon acceptance of proposals, projects will have an agreement drafted and each agreement will be specific to the milestones and deliverables of each project. This agreement must be fully executed by both the grantor (Greenacres Foundation) and the selected university prior to the contract being finalized. In addition, the selected university is encouraged to present their findings to Greenacres staff and interested public in Cincinnati, Ohio. Travel to this presentation should be a line item in the proposed budget. Finally, the selected university will need to provide written consent for GAF to utilize official logos for GAF materials pertaining to funded projects.

For this section include the following:

“I acknowledge that I have read and understand the AGREEMENTS section of the RFP”.

Weather: Air and Water Program Description and Standards

Changes in weather impact the survival of local plants and animals. Students will use tools to measure the water, wind, and temperature at Greenacres and see how these conditions affect living things in nature.

Ohio Science Standards:

• 2.ESS.1: The atmosphere is primarily made up of air.
• 2.ESS.2: Water is present in the atmosphere.
• 2.ESS.3: Long- and short-term weather changes occur due to changes in energy.

NGSS Standards:

• 2-ESS2-3. Obtain information to identify where water is found on Earth and that it can be solid or liquid.
• 2.ESS.3: Long- and short-term weather changes occur due to changes in energy.

Vocabulary: weather, atmosphere, wind, temperature, water cycle, solar, clouds, evaporation, precipitation, condensation.

Please submit proposals in PDF format. The file name should adhere to the following pattern: (LastNameofPI_GAF_YEAR).  Attach the CV and letter(s) of collaboration as separate documents. Preferred browsers for proposal submission are Google Chrome, Firefox, and Microsoft Edge.