Delta Dental Making Smiles Happen® Arts in Education Initiative

When it comes to improving oral health, the arts can play a role. Two key determinants of health are a lack of oral health information and an individual’s level of educational attainment. The Delta Dental Making Smiles Happen® Arts in Education Initiative addresses both of these determinants by reaching thousands of students across the Commonwealth, increasing access to the arts and oral health education information.

The arts are a critical component of the overall education experience, enhancing student academic achievement and development. Research shows that a student involved in the arts is four times more likely to be recognized for academic achievement, and students with high arts participation and low socioeconomic status have a 4% high school dropout rate – five times lower than that of their low-socioeconomic peers not involved in the arts.

The Delta Dental Making Smiles Happen® Arts in Education Initiative awards grants to K-12 teachers and schools to enhance classroom instruction with arts-based field trips or in-school experiences connected to core curriculum.

To learn more about oral health care and access free resources, visit Delta Dental of Kentucky’s Wellness site.

The Delta Dental Making Smiles Happen® Arts in Education Initiative is made possible by Delta Dental of Kentucky.

Who can Apply?

Any school, public or private, serving K-12 students during the school day in Kentucky.

All applications must have Principal approval in order to be considered for funding.

How to Apply

1. Review the 2017-2018 Education Brochures.

Your school may apply for any of the programs listed in the Education Brochures. Please read the program descriptions carefully before submitting your application. You can access the Education Brochures on the Delta Dental Making Smiles Happen® Arts in Education Initiative page of the Fund for the Arts website: http://fundforthearts.org/arts-impact/kids-and-familes/everychild/delta-dental/.

2. Discuss with your principal, ILT/SBDM, and teachers (if applicable) their arts programming interests for the coming school year.

Ask questions like “what arts discipline would you like to see in your classroom (drama, dance, music, visual art)?” or “what content area would you like the arts to help reinforce?”

3. Contact the Arts Group(s).

Talk with the arts group(s) that provide the programs for which you’d like to apply. Share with the group what you would like to accomplish in your classroom or school and ask how they can help meet your achievement goals. Also confirm with the group what the cost of the program would be for the number of students you would like served.

4. Complete the Grant Application.

Please complete one grant application for each program you’d like to request. For example, if you are requesting “Day of Dance” and “Chamber Ensemble Visit”, please submit two separate application forms. If you have more than one grade participating in a program, you will submit only one application for that program.

To access the application, go to the Delta Dental Making Smiles Happen® Arts in Education Initiative page of the Fund for the Arts website: http://fundforthearts.org/arts-impact/kids-and-familes/everychild/delta-dental/.

Tips for completing your application(s):

• Limit your use of bullets and other formatting.
• Copy and paste as needed.
• Log into your account at https://www.grantrequest.com/SID_5723?SA=AM to access saved and submitted requests.
• Add mail@grantapplication.com to your safe senders list to ensure you receive all system communications.

Award Amount & Eligible Expenses

There is no minimum or maximum amount for Delta Dental Making Smiles Happen® Arts in Education Intitiative awards.

Funds may be used to pay for programs included in the Education Brochures. This includes the program cost, bus costs to transport students to and from the program, and mileage and other travel costs for the arts groups to travel to and from the school.

Application Review Criteria

Grant applications will be evaluated on the following criteria:

1. The application offers students with arts-based programs that connect directly to core content and will enhance student learning and development.
2. The application is complete, well written, and easily understandable.
3. The per student cost of each program request included in the application.
4. The principal approved the application.

Program Timeline

Applications open early October 2017

Applications due November 15, 2017

Awards announced early December 2017

How will I know if my Application is Awarded?

An email will be sent to the teacher who submitted the application with a copy to your principal verifying the program and funding awarded.

What is Required of me and my School if we Receive a Grant Award?

Schools that receive a grant award must complete the following requirements

• A Program Schedule form to let us know when your awarded program(s) will take place. The Program Schedule is due no later than December 15, 2017.
• An Impact Report to let us know how your awarded program(s) benefited your students. The Impact Report is due no later than 30 days after the program’s completion.
• Submitting Student Thank You Notes and photos to help us show appreciation for Delta Dental of Kentucky for making the program(s) possible. Thank you notes are due no later than 30 days after the program’s completion.

How does the Arts Group get Paid for its Services?

Once a program is completed, the arts group will send an invoice to the Fund for the Arts, detailing the date the program was provided and the number of students that participated. Your school will confirm the date the program was provided and the number of students that participated in your Impact Report.

Contact Information

If you have any questions about TAG, please contact Kat Abner, Impact Officer at the Fund for the Arts, at (502) 582-0127 or kabner@fundforthearts.org.