The second critical component of the Heritage Education program is the Teacher Mini-Grants, which is also being assessed within the new scope of the program. In the past, the Mini-Grant call was open to all teachers in Louisiana. Even though the award amount has been a modest $2,500, this aspect of Heritage Education has had a positive impact on the students of teachers who received awards.
As the Heritage Education program advances into other states and regions the call will necessarily be opened to all teachers in those areas. As a result, and assuming funding for the Mini-Grants program would be level, awarded funds in all states and regions will be more limited when compared to awarded funds in Louisiana (number of applicants who receive funding versus number of applicants who apply).
A final decision on the Mini-Grants program has not yet been made, though there is discussion about leveraging those funds in a manner more essential to the Heritage Education program overall.