Critical Eisenhower Program Design Features

1. Successful projects are able to create (or discover) alternative educational resources:
   • Fiscal: Direct funds, link to other projects for synergy, corporate programs, governmental levies
   • Material: Scientific equipment, computing equipment, informational resources, recycled materials
   • Intellectual: Government agency scientists, corporate scientists, retired scientists, community members.
   • Curricular: Existing, fully-tested curriculum, pilot phase testing, replacement units.
   • Extra-curricular: Museums, parks, government preserves,“reserve” visits

2. Successful programs of teacher professional development also finds ways to include student participation:
   • Everyone who can impact a child’s education – administrators, counselors, teachers, staff, and parents
   • Open communication with a built-in feedback channel
   • Project components for all stakeholders – both inclusive (lectures, picnics) and targeted (courses for administrators)

3. While successful projects need a coherent and consistent set of goals, they also must allow participants the flexibility to meet their own personal needs:
   • Top-down vs. bottom-up thinking
   • Project-within-a-project strategies
   • Mini-grants