Arts Curricular Innovation Grants (ACIG) - Arts Teacher Institutes Program

The Arts Curricular Innovation Grants Arts Teacher Institutes program is administered by the South Carolina Department of Education through its Office of Assessment and Standards and is funded under the South Carolina Education Improvement Act. The program is supported by appropriations from the state legislature to enhance arts education across the state. It is one component of a broader Arts Curricular Innovation Grants initiative, which also includes other arts-focused funding streams. This specific program is designed to expand access to high-quality professional development opportunities for educators involved in arts instruction and administration. The primary purpose of the program is to fund organizations to design and deliver Arts Teacher Institutes that provide in-depth professional learning experiences in arts content. These institutes are intended to strengthen instructional practices in visual and performing arts disciplines such as dance, music, theatre, and visual arts. The program emphasizes standards-based instruction aligned with the South Carolina College- and Career-Ready Standards for Visual and Performing Arts and seeks to improve student achievement through enhanced educator capacity. Institutes are typically structured as intensive, residential programs with follow-up sessions and are offered either as tuition-free graduate-level coursework or professional development experiences. Funding supports a wide range of allowable activities necessary to implement the institutes, including hiring instructors such as professors or master teachers, purchasing instructional materials and supplies, securing facilities, and providing lodging and meals for participants within prescribed limits. However, funds may not be used for indirect costs, participant travel mileage, promotional expenses, or fees unrelated to the instructional program. The program does not require cost sharing or matching funds, and expenditures must directly support the approved institute activities and comply with state fiscal regulations. Eligibility is limited to specific entities within South Carolina, including public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofit arts organizations partnering with such institutions, and designated state-supported schools such as the Governor’s Schools. Applicants must demonstrate the capacity to administer an institute, meet all compliance requirements, and submit a complete application package. Each proposed institute requires a separate application and must align with one of the predefined institute models approved by the department. The application process requires submission through an online portal and includes multiple components such as a project narrative, evaluation design, institute syllabus, budget summary, budget narrative, and required appendices. Applicants must also submit supporting documentation including resumes of key personnel, evaluation instruments, and a signed certification form. Applications are reviewed for completeness and then evaluated by a panel of reviewers using a scoring rubric that assesses the quality of the project design, evaluation approach, and instructional plan. Only applications meeting minimum scoring thresholds are considered for funding. The timeline for the program includes a pre-application technical assistance session held prior to submission, followed by an application deadline in mid-December. Awards are announced in January, with the project period running from January 1 through June 30 of the funding year. Grantees must participate in post-award technical assistance, submit interim and final reports, and comply with ongoing monitoring and evaluation requirements. Final performance and financial reports are due in July following the conclusion of the project period. The program is offered on an annual basis as part of the state’s recurring investment in arts education. It is designed not only to provide immediate professional development but also to build long-term instructional capacity and leadership among educators. By supporting structured, standards-based institutes, the program aims to create sustainable improvements in arts education and student outcomes across South Carolina schools.

Ensure strict adherence to narrative structure and scoring rubric; fully align institute design with state arts standards; provide detailed and justified budget; submit all required appendices to avoid disqualification