BLOCK Fest

Funding Opportunity December 1st, 2013

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM

Idaho’s current education system does not establish well-founded and impactful early

child education programs to adequately prepare Idaho’s students for rising expectations of

learning. Beginning the education process earlier with research based programs that are both

insightful and playful can help Idaho maximize the results of their earnest achievement programs

currently focusing on junior high and high school success. Idaho’s education and business

leaders need to change the statistics that claim Idaho students are not proficient in math and

reading. Idaho needs a program that will manifest its effects during pivotal moments in the lives

of each Idaho student as they choose which and how many high school courses to take that will

prepare and motivate them to go on to college and compete in the twenty first century workplace.

According to the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, “research on children’s

learning in the first six years of life validates the importance of early experiences in mathematics

for lasting positive outcomes (2007).” A coordinated analysis of six large-scale longitudinal

studies found that young children’s math concepts at school entry were even better than literacy

skills at predicting later school achievement (Duncan et al., 2007). Well before children enter

school they are developing core skills in math and literacy on which they will build later school

achievement. A key challenge for Idaho is to educate a new generation with essential math and

science skills needed for today’s economy. Yet in spite of strong evidence, poor investment in

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pre-school early learning corresponds with the “striking disparities in what children know and

can do, evident well before they enter kindergarten” (National Academy of Sciences, 2000).

State initiatives launched over the past decade to strengthen math and science skills

solely focus on junior high and high school. The greatest educational efforts at this time

concentrate on packing more into the secondary school curricula during the final years of high

school to raise trailing graduation rates in Idaho high schools and rate of graduates going on to

college (J.A. & Kathryn Albertson Foundation, 2005). Most recently, The Common Core

Standards have been developed and is being implemented in Idaho schools at each grade level to

help define clear and specific goals for measuring science and math achievement and

understanding. It is clear Idaho legislators and educators are going to great lengths to improve

grade school science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education.

Still, vital building of fundamental brain architecture in young children—a proven

precursor to strong science and math achievement in high school—is widely neglected. Within

Idaho legislation, Idaho Code § 33-208 indicates child attendance in Kindergarten programs is

not compulsory in Idaho K-12 schools, nor are children compelled to begin education until they

reach 7 years old (Idaho Code § 33-202). Brain development begins well before kindergarten or

first grade; research indicates the first six years of life can be a crucial window for building brain

architecture used significantly in junior high and high school math and science. To improve the

effectiveness of existing efforts to excel junior high and high school student performance in math

and science, a stronger focus on early child development programs is a vital corner stone to

achieving such impact.

Results from a study comparing the relationship between early block play in preschool

children and their later math skills determined a significant relationship between preschool block

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performance and the number of math courses taken, number of honors courses, mathematics

grades achieved, and weighted mathematics ‘points’ scores (Wolfgang, Stannard & Jones, 2001).

Other researchers at the University of Delaware and Temple University added further supporting

evidence that playing with blocks helped preschoolers develop the kinds of skills that support

later learning in STEM. In fact, research determined that this repeated exposure to block play

was especially important for low-income preschools to develop spatial skills and math thinking.

In many cases, Idaho children are denied sufficient opportunity to develop pivotal emergent math

and science skills due to a general lack of awareness by educators, community leaders,

businesses, and parents about the need to implement early experience-based learning before

formal K-12 education begins. There is ample need for growth in early child education that Idaho

businesses and organizations can respond to in ways that will help cultivate opportunity for

Idaho pre-schoolers and make early STEM learning a fundamental part of each Idaho child’s

formal education, thus raising the potential and competency of the future workforce.

BLOCK Fest™ is an award-winning response to the need for early child education

programs in Idaho. BLOCK Fest™ raises awareness of early math and science learning

opportunities by offering hands-on block play experiences to families of young children, thus

helping to develop the workforce of the future. In 2005, the program was originally developed

by the University of Idaho’s Parents as Teachers Demonstration Project earning the 2006 Losos

Prize for Excellence. Today, BLOCK Fest™ is exclusively licensed by the Twiga Foundation,

Inc. headquartered in Boise, Idaho. The Twiga Foundation coordinates BLOCK Fest™ events in

twelve states and is uniquely poised to expand early child core literacy and math learning within

Idaho. The Twiga Foundation is experienced in delivering training and event coordination at a

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local and national level. The organization maintains a large number of subject matter experts,

including the original team of program and curriculum developers from University of Idaho.

The Twiga Foundation is a not-for profit organization that grasps the importance of

providing young children ample and efficient learning opportunity that will ensure Idaho

children thrive in K-12 schools where core standards are continually being raised to meet a

global economic demand. Every effort of Twiga Foundation, Inc. is dedicated to promoting

healthy family consciousness and child development in the home, workplace, and community.

Organization coordinators, master and certified trainers work to expand these early math and

science learning events for parents and children ages eight months to eight years. With close to

50 exhibits in the U.S. currently, BLOCK Fest™ is a hands-on building extravaganza featuring

five different block stations with unique block types allowing for child-directed constructive

play—a framework created from a 50-year cumulative body of research concerning child and

infant brain development. Included in this research used to develop BLOCK Fest™ are several

clarifying findings:

• Brain development occurs through life as experiences continue to enhance new brain

growth and refine existing brain structures.

• Skills acquired in one life cycle stage affects learning at subsequent stages.

• Children reach their potential when they have the experiences needed to lay foundational

skills in early years.

• Critical periods for symbols and relative quantity, two significant math prerequisites,

occur before the age of five years.

• Simple tasks such as manipulation of blocks helps infants and toddlers develop early

skills, including math literacy—the language of numbers.

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• Guided parent involvement eases the parent’s uncertainty towards their own math and

science skills.

BLOCK Fest™ subject matter experts, Diane Demarest, M. Ed., Patricia O’Hara, M.S., and

Harriet Shaklee, Ph.D. use construction play as a tool for teaching because of the opportunity it

affords young children to classify, measure, order, count, use fractions, and become aware of

depth, width, length, symmetry, shape and space (Hirsch, 1996). As a child moves about a pile

of blocks he or she uses small and large motor skills to navigate. Problem solving and planning

is required in considering possible actions with the varied shapes in space. Block play engages

all areas of development during one play event.

PROJECT DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION

1. Provide logistical support to coordinate a BLOCK Fest™ exhibit sublicense at all Idaho

School Districts

The Twiga Foundation will coordinate sublicensing each school district in Idaho to include

all 113 Idaho school districts and 26 Independent Local Education Agencies (LEAs). Twiga

Foundation will work with each school district and LEA to arrange the purchase of a sublicense.

They will also work with schools’ point of contact to select an event space suitable to

accommodate the exhibit.

2. Provide logistical support to implement a permanent BLOCK Fest™ exhibit in all

Idaho School Districts.

With the assistance of their Grant Manager, Redden Group, Twiga Foundation will plan and

carry out the logistics of delivering an exhibit to each participating school district and arranging

suitable storage locations for the BLOCK Fest™ exhibit when not in use. Twiga will coordinate

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the purchase and logistics arrangements for trailers to transport and store each school district’s

block exhibit. Scheduling four BLOCK Fest™ events per year in each school district’s zone with

the area’s certified trainers will also be included in the logistics of pre-event planning.

3. Provide logistical support for 3 annual Master Trainer development training &

curriculum planning

Annually, Twiga Foundation will build upon existing core staff to train and educate

additional Master Trainers to facilitate certified trainings at new BLOCK Fest™ exhibit sites in

Idaho for the duration of 3 years. Newly accredited Master Trainers will travel to classroom

training sites to lead workshop education activities. BLOCK Fest™ Project Director will also

attend each training.

Master Trainers are the subject matter experts of BLOCK Fest™. They host trainings to

prepare Certified Trainers to host effective and informed BLOCK Fest™ events in each of their

respective communities. The Twiga Foundation will expand their current number of in-state

Master Trainers in Idaho to meet the project’s training needs. Core staff at Twiga Foundation

will incorporate annual curriculum development meetings to train existing and additional Master

Trainers.

4. Provide logistical support for a minimum of 12 (16 hour) Certified Training Workshops

The Twiga Foundation will host and provide logistical support for 12 Certified Trainer

Workshops for all sublicenses of BLOCK Fest™ in Idaho. On a quarterly schedule, the Twiga

Foundation will train a maximum of 200 participants each year for the length of three years.

These workshops will be coordinated in conjunction with other required meetings when

applicable to minimize travel and other associated costs.

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Twiga Foundation’s appointed Grant Manager (Redden Group) will meet with regional

school district administrators to identify the best way to schedule trainings throughout 2014,

2015, and 2016. Once dates are decided, Twiga Foundation’s team will provide logistical and

planning support for the training sessions and participants. This support will include pre-event

planning, registration services as well as coordination and management. The Redden Group will

help coordinate with each Idaho school district’s Administrative staff to schedule dates, arrange

applicable lodging, and meeting rooms. Lodging and related costs are budgeted based upon 50

participants over a 2-day period per workshop.

The targeted number of Certified Trainers connected to each BLOCK Fest™ exhibit is 4.

Twiga Foundation will work to train two candidates from the community and two from the

school district staff. The Redden Group will coordinate marketing plans to recruit candidates for

training, conduct pre-event planning, set time, location and dates of training.

5. Support for Block Fest 3+1 host training sessions administered by Certified Trainers

Twiga foundation supports BLOCK Fest™ Certified Trainers to train interested and available

BLOCK Fest™ event hosts using their developed 3+1 training curricula. They will coordinate

supplying Certified Trainers with 3+1 curriculum materials and instructions for reporting

evaluation of trainings on an as-needed basis.

6. Manage Curriculum Development Meetings, Master Trainer and Certified Trainer

Refresher Trainings

The Twiga Foundation maintains a core number of subject matter experts, or Master

Trainers, who develop and evaluate training, both in-classroom and distance learning, set

standards and provide certification to trainers and hosts attached to a BLOCK Fest™ exhibit

across the country. Based on the requirements of the sublicense, the Twiga Foundation will

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coordinate recertification trainings every three years with Certified Trainers from all established

BLOCK Fest™ sites to improve minimum standards for training and certification and provide

in-service and continuing education for certified BLOCK Fest™ trainers.

Twiga Foundation will develop and disseminate education materials for the training. Site

selection and scheduling arrangements will be made no later than 6-8 weeks in advance for all

training. Subject matter experts will also coordinate as needed to develop and evaluate training,

both in-classroom and distance learning.

7. Provide logistical support to schedule monthly BLOCK Fest™ events in each Idaho

School District

The Twiga Foundation will work with school districts, Certified Trainers, and hosts, to

establish a schedule for monthly BLOCK Fest™ events. To recruit eager and skilled BLOCK

Fest™ hosts and to provide ample opportunity to children and parents in the community for

block play experiences, The Twiga Foundation will offer a stipend to hosts after each monthly

event.

Of the four Certified Trainers Twiga Foundation will train in each school district, each

trainer will agree to host a minimum of one BLOCK Fest™ a year, budgeting for an average of

four block play events per school district per year. These events may take place in the school or

community. The Certified Trainer in each community will represent both. This average of four

BLOCK Fest™ events is budgeted with the understanding that smaller school districts may

require fewer than four events per year to meet community needs, while larger districts will

require more than four events in their area each year.

8. Track the activity and success of the BLOCK Fest™ project through technical

assistance and communication

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a. Provide and maintain dedicated email address

The Twiga Foundation contracts with an Idaho based grant management firm, the Redden

Group, who provide project management for federal grant programs and non-profit

organizations. Their work will include producing and maintaining a website and internet

accessible secure database for online registration, managing ongoing communication with

instructors and class participants through a help desk with a toll-free number. If awarded,

Redden Group will be contracted to maintain an additional phone line and dedicated e-mail

address, blockfest@twigafoundation.org, to communicate with the public and provide

information about the BLOCK Fest™ program.

b. Develop, provide, and maintain secure database for project reporting

The Twiga Foundation and the Redden Group are fully equipped to provide and maintain

secure databases and will utilize current databases to enhance the BLOCK Fest™ program and

track event records and data. Visit www.PursuitPolicy.org to see similar current Redden Group

contracted projects.

c. Produce, store, and disseminate promotional materials about the BLOCK Fest™

program

The Twiga Foundation will provide a central office space where all BLOCK Fest™

promotional materials are produced stored and disseminated. The Twiga Foundation currently

works with the Redden Group who specializes in promotional material development and

dissemination and a staff member will be available Monday through Friday to respond to any last

minute requests. The Project Coordinator will develop, produce, and disseminate content that

promotes awareness about the benefits of block play and the availability of BLOCK Fest™ in

each school district and surrounding communities. The Twiga Foundation will work with

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Certified Trainers and hosts connected to each school district and its respective community

members to develop a schedule of BLOCK Fest™ events available to children and parents in the

area. The schedule of events will be a resource used to develop timelines and content for public

advertising.

d. BLOCK Fest™ web site, development, and maintenance of limited-access document

sharing

The Redden Group is experienced in maintenance and operation of training websites and

organizational websites. The Redden Group will use their successful training program

framework to utilize all of the required database and technical requirements, including an

internet-accessible secure database for online registration and document sharing. The Twiga

Foundation will develop the database as necessary to provide the BLOCK Fest™ program with

their document sharing and tracking needs.

e. Coordinate production and distribution of educational materials to support training

The Twiga Foundation will coordinate the printing and distribution of all education materials

to instructors via requests on a timely basis. All materials will be housed, produced and

disseminated from one central location to minimize costs.

f. Collect and analyze statistical data on program implementation

Twiga Foundation will require statistical event and training data reports be collected

throughout the campaign. Such data will be developed based on research and evidence based

practices. This data will be utilized to identify areas for improvement and growth.

g. Provide scholarships for new Certified Trainers to attend BLOCK Fest™ certification

Because early education is under-funded and lacking public awareness, interested Certified

Trainer candidates are hard pressed to justify and obtain travel and training funds to cover the

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required Workshop training fees established by the Twiga Foundation. The included budget

provides $250 training scholarships to 556 Certified Trainer (4 per school district) candidates to

alleviate this concern. These scholarships will assist in generating qualified and motivated trainer

attendance. The Twiga Foundation will manage scholarship requests and distribution.

h. Provide hosting stipend for Block Fest™ event hosts

Each Certified Trainer and/or BLOCK Fest™ host will be paid a $200 stipend ($50 per hour)

each time they host a BLOCK Fest™ event to ensure the project’s successful completion.

CAPABILITIES/ COMPETENCIES

The Twiga Foundation, as a not-for-profit organization dedicated to family-consciousness

and child development, is uniquely poised and qualified to enter into this partnership with the

Albertsons Foundation. In 2009, through a partnership with the University of Idaho, Twiga

became the exclusive licensor of BLOCK Fest™. With a strong record of successful family and

community-based project administration and partnership participation, Twiga Foundation can

assure achievement of all BLOCK Fest™ project objectives. The mission of Twiga Foundation

is to research, develop, and share information, ideas and innovations that assist Idaho and other

states in establishing effective standards for early child education and productive parent

involvement in that learning process.

The Twiga Foundation has worked in partnership with the Families and Work Institute of

New York, the Society for Human Resource Management, and the Institute for a Competitive

Workforce, an affiliate of the US Chamber of Commerce, to promote the Alfred P. Sloan Award

for Excellence in Workplace Effectiveness and Flexibility in communities nationwide since that

time. Members of The Twiga Foundation participated in the implementation of Workplace

Flexibility 2010, a public policy initiative at Georgetown University Law in Washington, DC, to

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develop a range of public policy solutions on workplace flexibility that work for both the

employer and employee.

Ms. Patricia Kempthorne, founder and CEO of The Twiga Foundation, graduated from

the University of Idaho with a degree in business management and devoted her life’s work to

community service in the not-for-profit sector. Ms. Kempthorne is a leading advocate for

families and children. While serving as the first lady of Idaho from 1999 to 2006 she was able

shine a spotlight on the issues closest to her. Through her efforts, she brought greater awareness

to erasing the stigma of mental illness, breaking the cycle of child abuse and domestic violence,

preventing underage drinking, and increasing the rates of immunization and literacy among the

youngest Idahoans.

Additionally, Ms. Kempthorne works with a number of national boards. She serves on

the Leadership to Keep Children Alcohol Free Foundation Board of Directors, a unique coalition

of Governors’ spouses and emeritus spouses, federal agencies, and public and private

organizations dedicated to prevent the use of alcohol by children ages 9 to 15. She also serves

on the Parents as Teachers National Board of Directors, St. Luke’s Children’s Hospital Board of

Directors, and the University of Idaho College of Business and Economics Advisory Board.

Natasha Branaham will serve as the BLOCK Fest™ Project Director. Ms. Branaham

began work with The Twiga Foundation, Inc. to be a part of an organization that strives to make

a difference in the lives of those in her community. Her role at The Twiga Foundation is to

maintain a relationship with our current exhibit owners and Certified Trainers, as well as strive to

cultivate new connections with organizations that would benefit from the use of BLOCK Fest™ .

She has developed, coordinated, and hosted training's and BLOCK Fest™ events both locally

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and across the country. Her goal is to ensure The Twiga Foundation is successful in providing

children across the nation an opportunity to learn through block play.

Natasha has a long volunteer history serving her Boise community including, Make-A-

Wish foundation for nearly 10 years, The Good Samaritan Home, and is a Big Sister in the Big

Brother's Big Sister's program. Natasha has received her BA in Relational and Organizational

Communication from Boise State University which has offered opportunities to critically explore

the complex ways communication creates, maintains, and changes the relationships that

constitute our interpersonal, group, organizational, and intercultural lives.

Significant to Twiga Foundation’s success with BLOCK Fest™ are the continuing

partnerships they maintain with original trainers and instructors of the project. Currently, these

individuals operate and will continue to operate as Master Trainers, developing and revising

curriculum and offering certifications for additional trainers interested in bringing BLOCK

Fest™ to their community. The Twiga Foundation’s following core staff of subject matter

experts are indispensable to the continuing growth and success of the program.

Diane Demarest, MEd is one of the original developers of BLOCK Fest™ and has been

implementing events and trainings since it was launched in 2005. Diane is a long-time educator

and trainer. Diane is a native of New Jersey and lived in a number of eastern states before

moving to Idaho with her family in 1998. She completed her undergraduate in child

development at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and her master’s degree from the

University of Idaho in Organizational Leadership. Diane was a Parents as Teachers Supervisor,

directing the University of Idaho PAT Demonstration Project for 8 years as well as a PAT

Program Quality Consultant. She is currently the Executive Director of the Idaho Charter

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Schools Network. She also consults on program development and evaluation in the area of

parent education. She continues to work on BLOCK Fest™ as a Master Trainer.

Dr. Mari T. Fernandez has been on the faculty at the University of South Florida (USF)

since 1985 where her research, teaching, and service have focused on connecting families and

educators and supporting them to enhance the developmental and academic outcomes for

children. She is now the Director of the Florida Parental Information and Resource Center

(PIRC) at USF, a federally funded statewide project that focuses on family engagement in

education. Under her directorship, the Florida PIRC became the State Office for Parents as

Teachers, an evidence-based home visiting program. Dr. Fernandez serves as a master trainer for

BLOCK Fest™, an initiative that the Florida PIRC at USF has used statewide in Florida to

engage families in supporting their young children’s learning, especially in the areas of math and

science.

A school psychologist by training, Dr. Fernandez has extensive experience working with

families from diverse backgrounds, with a special focus on families of young children who may

be disadvantaged in meaningfully engaging in their children’s education due to economic,

educational, language, or cultural factors. She speaks Spanish and French, languages which have

been very useful in her work with families of Hispanic and Haitian Creole extraction.

Harriet Shaklee, Ph.D. Harriet Shaklee has a Ph.D. in Child Development Psychology

from the University of Oregon and 35 years of experience teaching and doing research at the

University of Iowa, University of Washington, and Seattle University. In recent years she has

worked at the University of Idaho, bringing research to the public through University of Idaho

Extension. Her special interests include rural families, transition to adulthood, early childhood

issues for parents, work and family, and grandparents raising grandchildren.

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Additional Project Managers and other required personnel will be contracted for each

task requested by The Albertsons Foundation. All contracts will be on a competitive open bid

format and awarded by the executive board of The Twiga Foundation with the concurrence of

The Albertson’s Foundation, following all Albertsons Foundation requirements and procedures.

The Twiga Foundation uses a CPA driven on-line accounting system to manage all grants,

record-drawdowns, and disbursements. Grant funds from The Albertsons Foundation will be

kept separate from all other funds through this system that is monitored by The Twiga

Foundation executive board members.

The Twiga Foundation has resourced a grant management firm, the Redden Group who

will provide project management for BLOCK Fest™. The Redden Group’s primary business

function is that of a paid Agreement Administrator for companies like International Association

of Directors of Law Enforcement (IADLEST) and for the Staffing for Adequate Fire and

Emergency Response (SAFER) agreements issued by the Department of Homeland Security

(DHS). Since most non-profit entities lack the expertise, staffing and financial resources to

apply and properly manage a grant agreement they choose to contract with the Redden Group to

write the agreement and administer it.

The Redden Group delivers a variety of services that assist and enable Associations in

achieving superior levels of organizational achievement. The combined prior experience and

expertise of the Redden Group has provided the company with national recognition and an

unmatched reputation for results-oriented, cost-effective leadership. The company’s primary

goal is to form strategic partnerships with Associations to determine organizational goals and

identify effective methods of obtaining desired end results. The Redden Group is dedicated to

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Figure 1.

providing Firefighter, EMS, Law Enforcement, and non-profit Associations with appropriate

organizational support.

Currently the Redden Group manages federal SAFER grant projects in 13 states,

providing volunteer departments in each region multimedia campaign planning, workshop

logistics planning, local marketing assistance, and Volunteer Firefighter incentive program

implementation. For the past four years, the Redden Group has successfully managed

IADLEST’s Pursuit Policy Training programs for police personnel nationwide, both scheduling

and conducting 40 Train-the-Trainers and over 1,400 Pursuit Policy Workshops. Between

February 2009 & December 2012, there were 17,347 individuals who took classroom-based

workshops and over 600,000 officers potentially introduced to improved policy pursuit practices

as a result. These details outlined above demonstrate how The Twiga Foundation and the Redden

Group achieved set grantor’s goals and how this proven track record can be directly applied to

managing the BLOCK Fest™ project.

IMPACTS/OUTCOMES & EVALUATION DATA COLLECTION/PERFORMANCE

Already, The Twiga Foundation has extended 47 BLOCK Fest™ exhibits to 12 states, including

Idaho, as shown in Figure 1. Based off

their last reports in 2012, 120 individuals

attended workshops to become Certified

Instructors. From those Certified

Instructors, The Twiga Foundation has

received quarterly reports cataloging

4,047 adults and 6,118 children attended

at least one of the 272 events held last year. Certified Trainers conducted 37 3+1 Trainings

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which trained 330 individuals to host a registered BLOCK Fest™ event. Twiga further expanded

one-hour training curriculum to event volunteers which trained 361 individuals last year. Parent

Handbooks created as take-home teaching aids by Twiga Foundation were given out by event

hosts to at least 4,500 parents.

Moving forward, if awarded this grant, The Twiga Foundation’s project manager will be

responsible for final reporting on a monthly basis All data will be measured utilizing surveys and

data tracking software. All timelines will be tracked following the projected implementation,

training, and marketing plan developed with each of Idaho’s school district administrators.

Timelines will be strictly adhered to for each of the required deliverables. If a Certified or Master

training is canceled due to lack of attendance, data will be provided documenting efforts to

recruit school and community members, advanced notification and rescheduled dates and

locations. Dates of completion will be set for each of the identified tasks associated with the

logistical facilitation of all workgroups and meetings. Results will be tracked documenting

projected dates, registration notices, and accommodation selections where applicable, and

notifications disseminated via e-mail, web, and mail.

Success will be measured by tracking the number of meetings, districts with obtained

sublicenses and block exhibits, and BLOCK Fest™ play events completed on-time. All reporting

will be provided on a monthly basis identifying the number of meetings held, and sublicenses

and block exhibits acquired in Idaho school districts, required data measures, number of certified

trainers trained, and children and parents impacted. Data gathered during the reporting process

including responses from Master and Certified Trainers, parent participants, and stakeholders

will be utilized to refine the program and deliverables.

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In order to successfully function as the BLOCK Fest™ program administrator, The Twiga

Foundation will,

1. Provide comprehensive logistical support to all components of the BLOCK Fest™ project

2. Increase information to the academic community in Idaho about the BLOCK Fest™ program

3. Increase the accessibility and incentive of block play by providing event host stipends

Each of these deliverables will be met according to the identified grant performance measure

criteria.

It is imperative that Idaho’s education system establish well-founded and impactful early

child education programs to adequately prepare Idaho’s students for rising expectations of

learning. Beginning the education process earlier with research based programs that are both

insightful and playful will help Idaho maximize the results of their earnest achievement

programs currently focusing on junior high and high school success. Block play programs will

change the statistics that claim Idaho students are in majority not proficient in math and reading.

BLOCK Fest™ provides consistent and recurring opportunity for children to develop a

correlation between fun and learning. It is a proven program that will allow teachers the freedom

to implement higher standards while maintaining motivated and empowered students. This early

learning process will set the stage for a long-lasting conducive attitude towards solving academic

challenges. More than this though, the BLOCK Fest™ program inspires equal understanding of

fundamental math literacy and practical application in young children living varying economic

conditions in either metropolitan areas or rural landscapes throughout the state.

Each Idaho student deserves every benefit the state’s education system can provide to

them so that they can in-turn rise above the discouraging statistics of college or job readiness that

currently characterizes Idaho. Catering to children’s early education needs, BLOCK Fest™ will

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cement a solid core skill set in math and science skills and a propensity for learning. From there,

students in Idaho would grow measurably in later years. It is a program that will manifest its

effects during pivotal moments in the lives of each Idaho student as they choose which and how

many high school courses to take that will prepare and motivate them to go on to college and

compete in the twenty first century workplace.

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BLOCK Fest Budget Detail Worksheet

(Based on 3-year timeline) A. Personnel – List each position by title and name of employee, if available. Show the annual salary rate and the percentage of time to be devoted to the project. Compensation paid for employees engaged in grant activities must be consistent with that paid for similar work within the applicant organization. Name/Position Computation Cost Project Director Natasha Branaham $36,000/year + 30% for benefits = $46,800/ year 2 Project Assistants $21,000 each per year + 30% benefits = $60,000/year (for curriculum development & exhibit ordering for 3 years)

Total: $ 320,400 B. Travel – Itemize travel expenses of project personnel by purpose (e.g., staff to training, field interviews, advisory group meetings, etc.) Show the basis of computation (e.g., six people to 3-day training at $X airfare, $X lodging, $X subsistence). Indicate source of Travel Policies applied, Applicant or Federal Travel Regulations. Purpose of Travel Location Item___ Computation __Cost Certified Training Workshops 50 participants + 2 BLOCK Fest™ staff x 2 days

Travel for 2 BLOCK Fest™ instructors = $2,120 x (12 total meetings) =$25,440

Travel for 556 Certified Training attendees (over 3 years): $500 airfare/mileage, lodging $150 (2 days), $130 per diem (2 days) = $433,680

Master Training Meetings (3 total) 3-4 participants x 2 days

Travel for up to 4 registered attendees and for 2 BLOCK Fest™ instructors + $500 airfare/mileage + lodging $150 (2 days) + $130 per diem (2 days) x (3 master training meetings) = $14,040

All travel expenses using current GSA per diem rates and requirements. Total: $ 473,160

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C. Equipment – List non-expendable items that are to be purchased. Non-expendable equipment is tangible property having a useful life of more than two years and an acquisition cost of $5,000 or more per unit. Expendable items should be included either in the supplies category or in the other category. Explain how the equipment is necessary for the success of the project. Attach a narrative describing the procurement method to be used. Item Computation Cost 1 BLOCK Fest™ exhibit per school district 139 school districts x $9,997.00 exhibit cost x 6% tax = $1,472,958 Storage/Transportation trailers per exhibit 139 exhibits x $1,700 trailer purchase & branding cost x 6% tax = $250,478 (based on pricing for a 5’ x 10’ cargo trailer)

Total: $ 1,723,436 D. Supplies – List items by type (office supplies, postage, training materials, copying paper, and expendable equipment items costing less than $5,000 such as books, hand held tape recorders) and show the basis for computation. Generally supplies include any materials that are expendable or consumed during the course of the project. Supply Items Computation Cost Phone/fax $1,200.00 Office supplies $2,400.00 Room/Equipment Rental $54,000.00 Postage and Shipping of Workbooks $155,500.00 Certified Trainer Workbooks Printing $ 26.78 per Exhibit Manual set-up instructions estimated upon 8”x10”, 60 pages x 556 Certified Trainers = $14,890 $26.78 per Certified Training Manual estimated upon 8”x10”, 60 pages x 556 Certified Trainers = $14,890 Total: $ 242,880

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E. Consultants/Contracts Name of Consultant Service Provided Computation Cost Master Trainers 2 per Certified Training $500 per trainer per day x 2 trainers x 2 days x 4 trainings x 3 years = $24,000 Certified Trainers BLOCK Fest™ Event Hosts $200 per host per day x 139 school districts x 4 events per year x 3 yrs = $333,600 Contracts: Provide a description of the product or services to be procured by contract and an estimate of the cost. Item Cost Redden Group – Project Coordinator – $120,000 per year x 3 years = $360,000

Total: $ 717,600 F. Other Costs – List items (e.g. rent, reproduction, telephone, janitorial or security services, and investigative or confidential funds) by major type and the basis of the computation. Description Computation Cost

Certified Training Class Registration 556 attendees (over 3 years) x $250 registration fee = $139,000 Internet-accessible secure database Development & Maintenance =$29,500 Parent Block Bags 25 bags per event per year x 3 years x 139 exhibits

= $41,700

Total: $210,200

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Budget Summary – When you have computed the budget worksheet, transfer the totals for each category to the spaces below. Compute the total direct costs and the total project costs. Budget Category Amount

A. Personnel $_ 320,400

B. Travel $_ 473,160

C. Equipment $1,723,436

D. Supplies $ _242,880

E. Consultants/Contracts $_ 717,600

F. Other $ _210,200

G. Indirect Costs _________

TOTAL PROJECT COSTS: $3,687,676

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