ACTION RESEARCH LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE
(ARLI) FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM INFORMATION
Application Must Be Submitted to CFE@CFEgrants.org by Monday, July 6, 2015
Program Description
Chicago Foundation for Education’s (CFE) Action Research Leadership Institute (ARLI) invites
exemplary PreK-8th grade Chicago Public School (CPS) teachers to join a fellowship program to
improve student achievement and teaching effectiveness. Selected teachers will be awarded $1,250
fellowships and be provided with intensive professional development as they analyze the
effectiveness of their teaching strategies and practices through an action research study conducted
in their schools.
ARLI Fellows will meet monthly over the 2015-16 academic year, receiving more than 45 hours of
total support from CFE and a university advisor. The ARLI experience is similar to that of a graduate
seminar: Fellows meet within a collaborative setting to participate in reflective dialogue, data
protocols, and explore critical questions based on their classroom experiences. At the end of the
school year, ARLI Fellows share their key research findings and recommendations with a
presentation and a written paper.
Action Research is a systematic process that teachers can use on an on-going basis to analyze the
effectiveness of their instruction through data collection, evaluation, and reflection. The research
findings and resulting policy recommendations of a teacher’s inquiry have the potential to impact a
classroom, a school, or the district.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicants must be full-time, certified elementary (PreK-8th) Chicago public school educators. CFE
considers an ‘educator’ to be a professional who works directly with students at least 60% of the
time, including librarians, social workers, and other subject area specialists.
ARLI Fellowship Award Information
ARLI Fellow Benefits:
 Receive a $1,250 stipend and earn up to 45 CPDUs.
 Receive on-going instruction and mentoring from a university professor as you conduct an
action research project that aims to impact your classroom, your school, and/or the district.
 Participate in reflective dialogue and collaborative research in a collegial setting.
 Contribute to a growing field of research on the effectiveness of teacher inquiry and
collaboration.
 Earn recognition as a teacher-leader.
Chicago Foundation for Education
ARLI Fellowship Program Information
 Character Education Bonus Award: Fellows who demonstrate exemplary research in the
areas of Character Education and the social-emotional well-being of students may receive a
$200 Character Education Bonus Grant at the end of their Fellowship.
ARLI Fellow Responsibilities:
 Participate in 10 to 12 meetings (3-4 hours each) and two individual conferences during the
2015-16 school year. Attendance at all meetings is mandatory and every effort will be made
to coordinate meeting dates with schedules of participating Fellows. The first meeting will
be scheduled for early September.
 Devote a significant amount of time outside of meetings to collect and analyze data.
 Complete assigned readings, maintain a teacher journal, and participate in online discussion
forums.
 Write, in incremental stages throughout the program, a 10-15 page research paper detailing
your research findings and policy recommendations.
 Write a two-page executive summary of your paper.
 Present your work at CFE’s annual ARLI Research and Policy Forum, with the ultimate
intention of submitting your paper to an education journal or comparable publication.
 Maintain weekly email communication with CFE and your university advisor.
Award Criteria and Selection Process
Fellowship proposal evaluation criteria:

Interest in, rationale for, and commitment to program involvement

Demonstrated efforts to enhance teaching and learning

Exhibition of an analytical and reflective disposition)

Strength of support letter

Overall clarity and presentation of application
Finalists for the ARLI Fellowship will be notified by Friday, July 17th. Each finalist will be
interviewed at the CFE office on either Tuesday, July 28th or Wednesday, July 29th; please
ensure you have daytime availability on both of those dates. Final awards will be announced in
early August.
Application Information
Complete and email a copy of pages 3 & 4 of this application - along with a scanned copy of your
Letter of Support from an administrator - to CFE@CFEgrants.org. Submissions must be emailed to
this address no later than Monday, July 6, 2015. The application and all relevant information can
be found on our website: www.CFEgrants.org.
ARLI FELLOWSHIP APPLICATION
Application Must Be Submitted to CFE@CFEgrants.org by Monday, July 6, 2015
PART I: Directions for Application
Complete and email a copy of pages 3 & 4 of this application, along with a scanned copy of a Letter of Support
from an administrator, to CFE@CFEgrants.org. Submissions must be emailed to this address by Monday,
July 6, 2015. This information and the application itself can be found on our website: www.CFEgrants.org.
PART II: Applicant Information
Name
Home Address
Title (check one):
Ms.
Mrs.
Mr.
Dr.
Apt.
City
State
Zip
E-Mail
Cell
Home
Please answer the following questions to help CFE track how funds are being awarded (optional): Gender:  F
Race/Ethnicity:  Black
School Name
 White
 Latino
 Asian/Pacific Islander
M
 Other
 Native American  Other  No Answer
Principal Name
What teaching position do you
hold?
Teacher, Gen Ed
Teacher, Subject:
Specialist, Title:
Other, Title:
How did you learn of this
program? (Check all that apply.)
Principal/administrator
Another teacher/colleague
What were the top three
influences in your decision to
apply for an ARLI Fellowship?
Received a nomination letter
CFE’s Annual Workshop
CFE print marketing
CFE email
Other:
What grade(s) do you teach?
Do you hold a leadership role
within your school? (Note: This is
not a requirement for consideration)
Team Leader
N/A
Other
Received nomination letter
Prior CFE award winner
Opportunity to gain leadership
experience
Colleague recommendation
Grant money
Other:
How many years have you been teaching?
At Current School:
In Total:
With CPS:
PART III: Letter of Support
A Letter of Support from your principal, assistant principal, team leader, or another colleague in a leadership role is
required. Please remind your reference that specific examples are more helpful than generic statements, and that
the best letters will speak to your:
 Commitment to student achievement; how you have produced positive classroom or school change
 Ability to analyze and learn from experience
 Personal and/or professional qualities likely to foster adult learning and collaboration
PART IV: Application Questions
 Please limit each response to 1200 characters (approximately 8-10 sentences).
 Define all education terminology and/or acronyms – points may otherwise be deducted.
Q1. Why have you chosen to apply for the ARLI Fellowship Program? How will
participating in this program benefit your personal goals for professional
development?
Response:
Q2. Action Research is the systematic process of analyzing a particular aspect of your
practice and collecting data to evaluate how student outcomes and/or your school
environment are impacted. In reflecting on your teaching practice, discuss one
possible area of research, as well as your rationale for this choice.
Response:
Q3. What is one education policy issue are you most passionate about? Be specific.
Response:
Q4. Give an example of a way you have produced positive classroom or school change.
Be specific about your role.
Response:
Q5. Discuss your commitment to “lifelong learning”. Be specific, including any
advanced degrees, professional memberships, and/or other grants or awards that
have contributed to your professional growth.
Response:
Q6. Successful action research requires ample time for data collection, meetings, and
reflection. Specifically discuss how you will make time to participate fully in this
program, in spite of other personal and professional commitments. Note that
additional obligations will not prevent your application from being considered.
Response:
Q7. ARLI is a program dependent on effective teacher collaboration. Discuss a
collaborative experience you have had and what you gained from that experience.
Response: