Purpose: This initiative is intended to support individual Task Force faculty members in conducting original research or completing a comprehensive synthesis of research that enhances our understanding of policy and/or practice directly associated with the Task Force on Quality Inclusive Schooling and its two-fold purposes: 1) to develop and to sustain high quality inclusive teacher preparation programs; 2) to engage in and to support the professional development efforts of selected high needs schools and districts in the seven regions of New York State.

For example, research or synthesis projects may be focused on one or more of the following topics: teacher preparation effects; teacher retention; mentoring; disproportionality; family engagement; pre-intervention strategies; strategies for inclusive teaching; college-school partnership building; collaboration in teaching; community engagement; professional development effects; strategies in bilingual education; urban teaching; rural teaching; English language learning; strategies for including learners with severe or multiple disabilities; and alternate assessment. Other topics may well be suggested.

Form of the proposal: A proposal should be developed as either a proposal for original research or as a proposal for completing a synthesis of research on the selected topic.

• A proposal for conducting original research should be prepared following standard research proposal structures: background; focused literature review; rationale and research questions; design of the study (including subjects, data collection methods, procedures, instruments, intended data analysis); significance and limitations. Both quantitative and qualitative research methods are acceptable. The researcher must provide evidence of review and
  approval by her/his Institutional Review Board for Human Subjects
  before the study can be funded.
  
• A proposal for completing a comprehensive synthesis of research should be prepared including the following elements: a description of the scope and limits of the topic for which research will be identified; a rationale for the importance of this synthesis; the identification of prior syntheses upon which this effort will build; potential strategies for identifying and selecting research studies to be included in the synthesis; estimates of the range of the number of studies likely to be included in the final synthesis.

Both types of proposals should include a timetable for undertaking and completing the proposed research or synthesis, including a description of how undertaking this work will fit with the faculty member's institutional role and assignments during that period of time. The Faculty Fellowship awards can support the work of one, or two or more faculty members working in collaboration. Include curriculum vitae for all faculty participants.

Expected outcomes: Faculty Fellowship awards must result in at least two products: a presentation to the Task Force on the effort and its substantive outcomes, and a written report to the HESC on the effort and its substantive outcomes. Other products are also encouraged: presentations before national, state, and regional organizations and groups; articles, book chapters, electronic forums, and other media; and so on. (Any such products should acknowledge the support of the Faculty Fellowship award, the HESC, and VESID.)

The awards: Faculty Fellowship awards will be made up to $8,000. The award itself will be given to a designated institution of higher education for disbursement. Up to 8% of the direct cost may be used to cover indirect costs incurred by the institution. A reasonable, well-thought budget should accompany the proposal. Funds may be used for a salary offset and/or for stipends,
for administrative and secretarial costs, for data gathering and analysis costs, and for costs associated with production of reports and presentations of the results.

Twenty-five percent (25%) of the awarded funds will forwarded to the designated institution when the proposal is approved. After approval and during the work, award recipients will be expected to meet with the HESC staff at least once to discuss the progress of the effort; 50% will forwarded upon the completed meeting with HESC staff. The remaining 25% will be forwarded upon the presentation to Task Force and the submission of the products of the effort.

Time frame: Ideally, supported projects would begin and end within an annual time frame. However, given the exigencies of a particular research design, or the responsibilities of a faculty member, it may be necessary for a project to begin during this year and be extended, pending continued support for the HESC, into the following year. Proposals should be written as necessary to achieve the best research designs and manageable timetables; proposals that span two fiscal years will be negotiated.

Proposals for Faculty Fellowships should be submitted as soon as they are developed and will be reviewed in a timely fashion.

Funds must be expended in time to permit the host institution to submit the final detail cost invoice and signed Exhibit C with the final narrative report by August 15, 2006. Timing for preparation of this report is different for each institution. Please consult with your host institution regarding this matter.

The final report should be sent to Dr. Gerald Mager, New York Higher Education Support Center for SystemsChange, 150 Huntington Hall, Syracuse, New York 13244-2340. An electronic version of the final report is acceptable and may be submitted through this website. In addition, you are expected to provide a mid-term report to Dr. Mager on or about midpoint of your research (date to be determined) as well as a presentation on your research to the Task Force on Quality Inclusive Schooling at one of its semi-annual Statewide meetings.