INCENTIVE FUNDING FOR ITALIAN LANGUAGE PROGRAMS
2010-2011 SCHOOL YEAR

Over the past ten years, the government of Italy has been offering incentive grants to public and private schools in an effort to promote the teaching and learning of the Italian language and culture outside of Italy. The objective of these grants is to help schools offer an Italian language program to their students in grades K through 10th, either as part of their curriculum, or as an elective course. The grants are awarded by the Consulates of Italy to schools in their respective regions, and are distributed through local non-profit organizations. Fondazione Italia is one of the organizations that works closely with the Consulate General of Italy in Los Angeles for this purpose.

Schools (grades K through 10th) throughout Southern California, Nevada, Arizona and New Mexico are invited to apply for these grants by submitting an application to Fondazione Italia. The application form is enclosed with this letter or can be downloaded from www.fondazione-italia.org (select "Start Italian in Your School" and then click on "Grant Application Form"). The application deadline for the 2010-11 school year is FRIDAY, April 30, 2010.

All applications received will be forwarded to the Education Office at the Italian Consulate in Los Angeles for consideration. Grants will be awarded based on the merits of the application and on availability of funds from the government of Italy. Grants are awarded with the expectation that the program will grow and become self-sustaining. Highest funding priority will be given to schools that show an interest to include the study of the Italian language as part of their regular school curriculum. Elementary and middle schools (grades K through 8th) may apply for a cash grant to be applied towards the cost of an hourly instructor for the Italian program. Grades 9-10th may receive a cash grant towards the cost of Italian textbooks for the program. At the end of the school year, all grant recipients will be asked to document the use of the grant funds and return any excess funds. Please note that a grant cannot be awarded for fee-based after-school programs.

For questions, please contact Fondazione Italia's Program Coordinator, Hilary Stern, at (310) 739-9350 or by e-mail at hstern@fondazione-italia.org.
You may also contact the Education Office of the Italian Consulate General in Los Angeles directly at (310) 979-5273 or by e-mail at scuola.losangeles@esteri.it.

Download this page in PDF