1Choose your letter

Each version leads with a different reason to say yes. Pick the one your principal will care about most.

Letter type Classroom impactYour principal judges professional learning by what changes in the classroom. Budget and valueFunds are tight, or requests are reviewed by cost first. Team attendanceThree or more of you are going, and you’re writing for the team. School goalsRequests are approved against a school improvement or PD plan. Grant or scholarship committeeYou’re asking a foundation or scholarship committee to fund the trip.

2About you

These fill in the greeting and signature.

Your name

Principal’s name

Principal’s email (optional)Only used to address the email when you choose Email letter.

Colleagues going with youSeparate names with commas, for example: Ms. Rivera, Mr. Chen

Team or department name (optional)

Who the letter is addressed toFor example: Riverside Education Foundation Scholarship Committee

Grant or scholarship nameFor example: the Teacher Professional Learning Scholarship

Your roleFor example: Math teacher

School name

Your email or phone (optional)

3Your plans

Short phrases work best. They drop straight into the letter.

Which pass?

Full conference, Saturday and Sunday Saturday only

Add the Friday preconferenceOne full-day course on Friday, February 19. It’s the only day that needs a substitute.

Add Leading TogetherFor coaches and school leaders: a two-day collaborative that runs alongside the conference. $50 add-on, free when bundled with the Foundations for Coaching preconference.

How many from your school are registering together?Three or more save $50 per person.

Courses or grade levels you teach

Sessions or topics you plan to attendFor example: structuring teamwork and assessment

Plan that names your goalFor example: our school improvement plan

School goal or PLC focus it connects toFor example: increasing student discourse in math

A challenge your students face right nowFinish the sentence “Right now my students…”, for example: rely on me instead of their team

Where you will share what you learnFor example: our March PLC meeting

Students you teach each year

What you expect to change for studentsFor example: more students explaining their reasoning in teams

How you will measure itFor example: comparing unit assessment results from February to May

My principal wrote a letter of supportAdds a line saying the letter is included.

Possible funding source (optional) Confirm with your principal or district office which sources can be used.

Decision needed by

4Costs

Registration is filled in at today’s price. Leave anything you don’t know blank and it stays highlighted in the letter.

Hotel nights

Hotel rate per night

Sharing a roomSplits the hotel cost in two.

Travel

Mileage, airfare, parking, or shuttle

Carpooling with a colleagueMentioned in the letter as a way you are keeping costs down.

Substitute, one day

Your district’s daily substitute rate

Amount your school or department will cover (optional)

The rest becomes the amount you request.

Write your request letter in two minutes

1Choose your letter

2About you

3Your plans

4Costs

Your privacy