Deadlines & other support meetings for 2025-26 BEF Grants

October

10/6/25       Call for FY26 Idea Lab proposals

November

11/7/25        Idea Lab Proposals Due, 5pm

11/13/25       Idea Lab Pitches, FRR library, 3-6pm

11/19/25      Idea Lab Pitches, FRR library, 3-6pm

11/25/25       Idea Lab grant announcements by email

December

12/1/25          Call for FY27 Teacher & Collaborative Grant Proposals

January

TBD         Grant Information Session, 3:15-4:15 pm,

TBD         Grant Information Session, 3:15-4:15 pm,

1/31/26       Concept Paper Due, 5pm (required for Collaborative Grants over $8,000)

February

TBD        Grant Writing Workshop, 3:15-4:15 pm, Town Hall

TBD        Grant Writing Workshop, 3:15-4:15 pm, Town Hall

March

3/2/26           Teacher and Collaborative Grant Proposals Due, 5pm

3/18/26         First Grant Review Meeting

April

4/9/26          Second Grant Decision Meeting

4/16/25         Teacher and Collaborative grant announcements by email

May

5/5/26         Celebrating Teachers, 3:30pm

“Because of this generous BEF grant, I was able to spend a week immersed in a truly dynamic learning environment. I had dedicated time for learning and reflection on my work, while also connecting with passionate educators across various roles—from classroom teachers to university professors, curriculum writers, and researchers. It was professionally renewing.”

Jenna Laib, Math Specialist

This grant was invaluable. Sometimes I mistakenly think that taking a course can seem a bit pedestrian compared to some of the exciting adventures people apply for in these grants. Quite to the contrary, these summer institutes were exciting in their own ways. I received expert training and was supplied with methods, manuals, and resources steeply based in the most current research about reading and writing. The most exciting part is how much progress my students have made this year. I am immensely impressed with the steady acceleration of how they have acquired crucial skills – decoding, encoding, letter formation, fluency, vocabulary development, word analysis, word building, comprehension in the context of a story, and written mechanics. In 34 years of teaching, this was one of the top learning experiences I have ever had. What I have gained from this grant will benefit my students and fellow teachers, as well as my own teaching, for many years to come.

Liz Cook, literacy specialist

Attending the NBASLH 2025 Convention was more than professional
development—it was a space of affirmation, community, and shared
purpose.

As a Black speech-language pathologist, being among other Black
professionals allowed me to:

  • Connect with others who share lived experiences and cultural
    insight
  • Feel seen, supported, and empowered in a field where we are
    underrepresented
  • Engage in learning that was culturally relevant, evidence-based,
    and immediately applicable to my practice

This convention reminded me of the importance of diversity—not only
in who we are, but in how we teach, learn, and serve our students.

Lauren Tavares, speech-language pathologist