Languages Matter
Monthly Grants & Scholarships

Wayside's unique direct-to-teachers award initiative

This Month's Award

Sally's Scholars Learner Inclusion Grant Logo

March "Sally's Scholars" 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



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 further below.


Upcoming Awards

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

Teacher Intercultural Scholarship Logo

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 Logo

August 2024

Resource Refresh Grant

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

September 2024

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 they infuse language with another discipline (including extracurriculars), connect middle school and high school language learners, or kick off an inter-district collaboration.

Open 9/1/2024 - 9/30/2024

Learner Retention Grant Logo

October 2024

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 10/1/2024 - 10/31/2024

Proficiency Teacher Scholarship Logo

November 2024

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 11/1/2024 - 11/30/2024

December 2024

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 12/1/2024 - 12/31/2024

Mighty Teacher Mentors Scholarship Logo

January 2025

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 1/1/2025 - 1/31/2025

Digital Innovation Grant Logo

February 2025

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 2/1/2025 - 2/28/2025