New Designation Program
Achieve the Collision School Career Readiness Benchmark By Applying for the Collision Repair Education Foundation Benchmark Grant (formerly the Ultimate Collision Education Makeover Grant).
Since 2009, schools have been able to apply for the Benchmark Grant to get much needed tools, equipment, and supplies for their school. Over $5 million in cash and in-kind donations have been given out to schools as a result of the grant. It has been a great success to the Foundation and to collision education. However, after hearing feedback from donors/industry about an immediate need for entry-level staff, in June 2015 the Foundation Board of Trustees made the decision to adjust the Foundation’s mission to focus not only on grants and donations, but also on bridging the employment gap. The new focus will be on getting the right grants/donations into each school to better prepare the students for entering the collision industry. As a result of this mission change, the Foundation created a new designation system for schools. Each school that applies for the Benchmark Grant will be given one of the following Collision School Career Readiness Benchmark designations:
Tier 1: Advanced
Tier 2: Proficient
Tier 3: Developing
The designation will be determined by how the school answers certain questions on the Benchmark application. The criteria for each Tier are on the Education Foundation’s website. With this new Collision School Career Readiness Benchmark program, there is even more reason to complete the Benchmark School application! The Benchmark application will now serve three purposes:
• Allow a school to be eligible for the cash prizes associated with the Benchmark School Grant.
• Allow a school first chance to receive all the in-kind donations the Foundation gives out for the year.
• Allow a school to achieve one of the three tiers through the Career Readiness School Benchmark program.
The Benchmark School grant itself will be adjusted to support this new designation program. The application will be similar to previous years, with a few questions added to determine which designation your school will achieve. It will open January 2, 2020 and be due June 17, 2020. Designations will be announced in July 2020, and the School grant winners will be announced in November 2020.
There will still be a place on the application to request items you need a grant for. However, your designation will help guide you on what items to request.
For example, if you do not have curriculum due to the lack of computers in your program, the application will guide you to request curriculum and computers on your application. The items requested will need to help advance your program to the higher designation.
Our goal is to get EVERY school to become a Tier 1: Advanced school.
Questions can be directed to MakeoverGrants@ed-foundation.org or 847-463-5282.
FAQS: Collision School Career Readiness Benchmark Program
Q: Why are you making this change?
A: There are approximately 1,150 collision schools (high schools and colleges) across the country. As each state, district and school have different resources, requirements, standards, testing etc, it is nearly impossible for any potential student, potential employer, parent, or industry member to know what resources each school has without individually reaching out to them.
By establishing the new designations, it will help:
• The Selection Committee determine exactly what grants/donation the school is in need of when reviewing the school grant applications
• Employers, future students, parents and counselors know more about any collision program they are working with
• Allow local businesses to know what the schools have or are in need of if they want to donate
• Show administration that collision is worth supporting and how funding can be improved to bring the program to the top designation
Q: How will the Collision Repair Education Foundation determine which designation my school receives?
A: The criteria are listed in this letter and are on the Foundation’s website. It is all objective data, so any school at any time can know exactly what designation category their school is in. The criteria include things like contact hours, existing tools/equipment, curriculum, outside activities, etc.
Q: Will you still offer $50,000 awards?
A: It will all depend on the applications. The Selection Committee, when reviewing, will have the option to award $50,000 grants or to split it amongst smaller grant awards to help more schools.
The goal will be to award amounts that will help a school to reach the next Tier.
Q: What if my school earns the top designation. Am I not eligible for any grants?
A: The criteria are listed in this letter and are on the Foundation’s website. It is all objective data, so any school at any time can know exactly what designation category their school is in. The criteria include things like contact hours, existing tools/equipment, curriculum, outside activities, etc.
Q: My school already has achieved Tier 1 status. Am I eligible to apply?
A: You are definitely still eligible! In the case of your school achieving the top designation (which means you have all the basic tools, equipment, supplies, etc), you have options to ask for other things to further advance your program such as:
• Replacements for outdated tools, equipment, supplies
• Aluminum tools
• Training
• I-CAR curriculum fees for students
