Languages Matter
Monthly Grants & Scholarships
This Month's Award:

Inspirational Intersections Grant
Two educators collaborate across disciplines, grade levels, or language classes
Are you and a colleague from two different disciplines, grade levels, or schools, dreaming about collaborating in the upcoming school year? This grant is intended to support two or more educators as you infuse language with another discipline (including extracurriculars), connect middle school and high school language learners, or kick off an interdistrict collaboration.
Open 9/1/2023 - 9/30/2023
How It Works:
Educators around the United States spend, on average, $500 of their own money on classroom supplies, memberships to scholarly organizations, and continuing education. Wayside wants to ease some of that burden.
Each month, we bring you a new theme to support a unique purpose. Awards can range from $50 to $500 per month, and no request is too small. We encourage you to apply for any that are relevant to you—the application process is simple!
Learn how we evaluate and distribute awards.
Read more about our upcoming awards below:
Upcoming Awards:

October 2023
Learner Retention Grant
Keeping kids in school
Is your first priority keeping your learners in school? October is National Dropout Prevention Month – or from a strength-based perspective, a month to focus on Learner Retention. This grant is intended for educators who serve in a classroom that is subject to missed attendance from class or from school entirely. How can we support you in incentivizing your learners to stay engaged in their learning path? Example projects could include guest speakers, enrichment activities, or funds to offset college visits, field trips, etc. As you know your community best, these examples are not intended to limit your application.
Open 10/1/2023 - 10/31/2023

November 2023
Proficiency Teacher Scholarship
Bolstering your proficiency game
Have you left a conference with a new idea and all the tools and knowledge to implement... except for funding? We’d love to hear from you! This scholarship is open to thought leaders who work in middle and high school language programs, and who strive to advance their own proficiency practice. Scholarship funds can be applied to professional development, materials for research, supplies to pilot a new proficiency-driven strategy in your classroom, or funds you need to share your voice: presentation/workshop supplies, conference entry costs, podcast or blog costs, etc.
Open 11/1/2023 - 12/31/2023

December 2023
Student International Scholarship
Travel or domestic/online immersion
Do you have a learner who is hooked on language? Maybe an aspiring chef, future translator, songwriter, or future language teacher? This scholarship is open to learners seeking intercultural communicative experiences in a target language, domestic or international. This can include study abroad, local classes, a volunteer experience, a trip in your community, or an online service, tool, or class. Priority will be given to learners interested in developing a career interest.
Program examples include: Concordia Villages, CIEE, idlewildbooks.com
Open 12/1/2023 - 12/31/2023

January 2024
Mighty Teacher Mentors Scholarship
Funds for a mentor/mentee pair or a mentorship program
Have you taken a new teacher under your wing? Are you spearheading a new educator mentor initiative? We’d love to support your efforts! This scholarship can be applied to a project by a specific mentor/mentee pair or used to defray the costs of a broader mentorship program effort undertaken by a school, district, or association. Examples of projects could include but are not limited to any costs directly caused by a new mentorship program, materials/registration fees for professional development around mentorship, costs incurred by a co-presentation where an experienced mentor co-presents with an emerging education thought-leader (conference registration fees, etc).
Open 1/1/2024 - 1/31/2024

February 2024
Digital Innovation Grant
Covering or defraying digital tools/services
Curious about infusing educational technology into your language classroom? This grant's purpose is to cover or defray the costs of new online tools and services you will use to innovate the learning experience for your language students. Preference will be given to requests for tools and services that connect learners to communicative experiences.
Open 2/1/2024 - 2/28/2024

March 2024
Sally's Scholars: A Learner Inclusion Grant
Reaching an underserved learner population
In memory of Sally Macleod, who was a Wayside teacher, colleague, and friend. This grant will be awarded to support the learners Sally prioritized throughout her teaching career – youth who feel underrepresented, unheard, or underserved. Who is your Sally’s scholar, and what do they need to become more engaged or included within your language learning classroom? Educators in traditional and untraditional programs are welcome to apply.
Open 3/1/2024 - 3/31/2024

April 2024
Classroom Culture Awareness Grant
Bringing speakers or resources into the classroom
Intended to help your learners use their language skills to improve both language and cultural awareness, develop relationships, and promote equity within your school or community. Get support for connecting to organizations, authors, artists, and events related to your language of study by inviting guest speakers to your school or community. Applications should be submitted by a teacher, though we encourage you to include in the project narrative how your learners contributed to the idea.
Open 4/1/2024 - 4/30/2024

May 2024
Ch-Ch-Changes Grant
For teachers at a career transition point
Are you making changes to how you teach? Are you adding a new language or level to your workload? This grant is for purchasing new materials, subscriptions, or training to support you as you hit your stride. Preference will be given to two unique scenarios:
- Educators concluding their second or third year in the classroom: Sometimes new teachers do not know all they need until they spend enough time in their own classroom to develop their style!
- Educators new to AP®: Have you recently and unexpectedly been placed at the helm of an AP® program? Congratulations ... and let us help you.
Open 5/1/2024 - 5/31/2024

June 2024
Opening Doors For Future Teachers Grant
Classroom set-up supplies for a new teacher
Intended for a new world languages teacher who will be heading into the classroom for their first year of teaching this fall. Requests may include authentic resources, classroom supplies, etc. New educators with ability differences are encouraged to apply for unmet gaps in support/services as they plan their career in the classroom.
Open 6/1/2024 - 6/30/2024

July 2024
Teacher Intercultural Scholarship
Because interculturality is not just for students!
Are you itching to finally sign up for that local French culinary class or salsa dancing workshop? Are you a Spanish teacher craving an immersive language experience - in Swedish? This scholarship is intended to support participation in a second-language intercultural, communicative experience of the educator's choice. Experiences can be international, domestic, or virtual.
Open 7/1/2024 - 7/31/2024

Resource Refresh Grant - August 2024
New readers, copies of texts, digital tools, etc.
Open to educators who have a vision for implementing new instructional materials or resources in the classroom, or for replacing key materials that are worn out. Funds can be requested to cover the cost of readers or individual replacement copies of texts, to help defray the cost of class sets of new textbooks, or to fund or supplement any program or service that connects your language learning class with others.
Open 8/1/2024 - 8/31/2024