CAN Professional Learning Communities Recruitment FAQ

CAN is a multi-year grant initiative creating nationwide virtual Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) with educators in visual/media arts, music, theatre, and dance. CAN’s purpose is to build a sustainable model of professional learning for arts educators in public schools and public charters to strengthen their pedagogy, instruction, and leadership skills to better serve students.

In fall of 2023, we are recruiting up to 600 arts educators (150 educators per art form) to serve as PLC participants! These PLCs will meet virtually each month of the school year from January of 2024 through June of 2026 with a primary focus on professional learning in the areas of equity, diversity and inclusion; social–emotional learning; and teacher leadership through standards-based arts instruction.

For full details click here.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Is this project only for public art educators? Yes, this is correct. CAN is federally funded by the US Dept. of Education and funds are restricted to only supporting arts teachers who work with public school students.

Is it possible to join as a professor of art education or a instructional lead of K-12 teachers?
Yes, if you work with public school teachers in a professorial or administrative program, you are eligible to apply. However, we are prioritizing K-12 arts educators in schools.

Is it possible to join as a museum educator?
If you work with public school students on a consistent basic (i.e. not drop-in programs) then you are eligible to apply. However, we are prioritizing K-12 arts educators in schools.

What is the fee to apply?
There is no fee to apply, for teachers or for schools.

What is the compensation or stipend for Teacher Participants?
The goal of this grant is to provide high quality arts-focused professional learning targeted towards arts educators and their students. The CAN Professional Learning Communities have access to nationally recognized education leaders, cutting edge teaching strategies and other research based tools to help improve participants’ teaching practice in the areas of ED&I and SEL using action-based research. These professional learning resources and workshops are provided free of charge exclusively to CAN participants.

What are the benefits of being part of CAN?

• A community of support through the arts-based PLC access
• Professional learning opportunities with national content experts
• A letter of acceptance for their supervisor
• Record of hours completed towards professional advancement
• Certificate from the relevant association recognizing their achievements in specific content areas
• Leadership opportunities

What is the annual commitment?
Teacher Participants are committing to being part of a virtual PLC for 2.5 years:

• January 2024-June 2024
• September 2024-June 2025
• September 2025-June 2026

What is the monthly time commitment?
Teacher Participants commit to:

• One 90-minute PLC meeting each month from January 2024 through June 2026, with breaks in July and August.
• No more than one hour of prep between PLC meetings. For example, this could be a reading, a reflection activity, or an activity to test in your classroom.

Do I have to be a member of EdTA, NAEA, NAfME, or NDEO to participate?
No, Teacher Participants do not need to be a member of one of the CAN partner associations. We encourage teachers to consider membership due to professional learning offered by each association.

Do I get professional learning credit for participating?
We are willing to work with CAN participants to get state credit, tracking and signing off on hours. Since we are a national project, we rely on participants to take the initiative on this because we are not affiliated with any state. National associations will provide participants with a certificate of participation each year with total hours completed.

How will applicants be selected?
CAN aims to create balanced and diverse Professional Learning Communities representing a broad range of factors and identities that reflect the diversity of school communities across the US. Applicants’ range of experience, responses to CAN content areas, video response, and availability will be factored into the selection process and sorting participants into PLCs.

When are applications due?
The extended deadline is November 13, 2023