Books Across America
   The National Education Association's Books Across America Library Books Awards Program enables public school libraries serving economically disadvantaged students to purchase books. Maximum Award: $1,000. Eligibility: Practicing pre-kindergarten through grade 12 school librarians, teachers, or education support professionals in a U.S. public school in which at least 70 percent of the students are eligible for the free or reduced-price lunch program. Deadline: November 7, 2008. Learn more.

Grants for the Teaching of Writing
   The College Board's Bob Costas Grants for the Teaching of Writing, named for the Emmy Award-winning broadcaster and author, recognize exceptional teachers for the innovative methods they use to develop their students' writing skills. Maximum award: $3,000. Eligibility: teachers of Grades 6-12. Deadline: Nov. 21, 2008. Visit Costas Grants for more information.

Inspiration Awards
   The College Board's Inspiration Awards recognize schools for outstanding college-preparation programs and partnerships among teachers, parents, and community organizations. Maximum award: $25,000. Eligibility: secondary schools in which a minimum of 40 percent of the students qualify for free or reduced-price lunches, and that can demonstrate consistent growth in college-preparation across the entire student population; schools with an academic admissions policy are not eligible. Deadline: Nov. 21, 2008. Go to Inspiration Awards to learn more.

Inclusion of Youth with Disabilities
   The Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation Inclusion Champion Award honors individuals who have made significant efforts to promote the full inclusion of youth with disabilities in society. The focus of the efforts may include, but is not limited to, helping to create a culture of inclusion within an organization or community, or developing innovative strategies for inclusive programming in school activities, after-school programs, community service, and leadership development. Maximum award: $1,000 for the charity of the recipient's choice. Deadline: Dec. 1, 2008. Click here for details Inclusion Awards.

ExploraVision Awards
   The Toshiba/National Science Teachers Association ExploraVision Awards Program encourages kids in all grades to create and explore a vision of future technology by combining their imaginations with the tools of science. Maximum award: $10,000 U.S. Series EE Savings Bond; all-expenses-paid trip with families, mentor, and coach to Washington, DC, for a gala awards weekend in June 2009. Eligibility: K-12 students. Deadline: Jan. 28, 2009. Learn more ExploraVision Awards.

College Course Scholarships for Educators
   The Horace Mann Scholarship Program for Educators is offering scholarships for educators in public and private schools to take college courses. Maximum award: $5,000. Eligibility: Educators must be employed by a U.S. public or private school district or U.S. public or private college/university at the time of application and at the time the scholarship is awarded, and must have at least two years of teaching experience; not open to residents of Hawaii, New Jersey, or New York. Deadline: March 12, 2009. For more information visit Horace Mann Scholarship

Sylvia Shugrue Award
   The National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) Sylvia Shugrue Award for Elementary School Teachers honors a teacher who has established (or is establishing) an interdisciplinary, inquiry-based lesson plan. The lesson plan must fully reference information sources and any relevant National Science Education Standards and benchmarks found in The Atlas of Science Literacy. Maximum award: $1,000, and up to $500 to attend the NSTA National Conference on Science Education, March 19-22, 2009, in New Orleans. The recipient will be honored during the Awards Banquet at the NSTA Conference. Eligibility: full-time elementary school teachers (grades K-6) with a minimum of three years' experience. Deadline: Nov. 30, 2008. Sylvia Shugrue Award

Safe and Vital Communities
   The Allstate Foundation supports national and local programs in three focus areas. Safe and Vital Communities programs address catastrophe response, youth anti-violence, neighborhood revitalization, or teen safe driving. Economic Empowerment programs address financial and economic literacy, insurance education, or empowerment for victims of domestic violence. Tolerance, Inclusion, and Diversity programs address teaching tolerance to youth, ending hate crimes, or alleviating discrimination. Maximum award: varies. Eligibility: 501(c)(3) organizations. Deadline: rolling. To learn more visit Allstate Foundation

ALA Cavendish Award: Library Programming
   The American Library Association's Marshall Cavendish Excellence in Library Programming Award recognizes a library whose programs have community impact and respond to community needs. Eligible programs include: support of educational programs, library programs for children and adults, reading and literature programs for children, library programs for young adults, programming for multi-ethnic groups, community outreach, literacy programs, and programs and services for people with disabilities. Maximum award: $2,000 and a citation of achievement. Eligibility: school or public libraries. Deadline: Dec. 1, 2008. For details visit Cavendish Award

Live Monarch Educator Outreach Program
   The Live Monarch Foundation Educator Outreach Program provides funding for teachers throughout the United States to enroll in the National Campaign to bring monarch butterflies into the classroom. This program provides education and materials to strengthen the monarch's 3,000-mile migratory route within North America by creating self-sustaining butterfly gardens and refuges. Materials will be provided for each participant to raise a virtual butterfly and start a real butterfly garden with professional instruction on each level for its maintenance and care. Maximum Award: n/a. Eligibility: teachers and classrooms in areas on the monarch migratory route. Deadline: rolling. Apply

Free Teaching Resource
   Recently the U.S. Department of Education launched a new and improved version of the much acclaimed web site, Federal Resources for Educational Excellence (FREE). FREE provides educators with lesson plans, primary documents, science visualizations, math challenges, literary works, paintings, music manuscripts and many other vital classroom resources. The tool also combines important educational elements culled from the Library of Congress, Smithsonian, National Science Foundation, NASA, National Archives, and other federal agencies. Free Teaching Resources