SPANISH FORT, Ala. — With school funding scarce, local teachers have at least one option to boost classroom coffers and subsidize special projects, but only if they do their homework and do so quickly.

The application deadline for the Spanish Fort Educational Enrichment Foundation’s Teacher/Student Grants is Jan. 19, and SFEEF Executive Director Sandra Bostrom said she expects “larger than normal participation” amid the school system’s economic hardship.

“This is an excellent opportunity for teachers to acquire education needs that would otherwise be lacking,” she said.

Judges from outside the Spanish Fort area will pore over the entries, scoring them on educational enrichment value as well as the number of students projected to benefit from the programs among other criteria, Bostrom said.

Top scoring entries will share $20,000 in grant funding, and winners will be announced in March.

One year ago, the mini-grant program awarded more than $22,000 to 16 classrooms across the feeder pattern, financing everything from multimedia equipment and reading software to chapter books and interactive learning materials. During the 2008-09 program, Rockwell Elementary garnered more than $7,600 in additional grant funding, while Spanish Fort Middle was awarded more than $7,500; Spanish Fort Elementary netted $5,700;

and Spanish Fort High nabbed nearly $1,500.

Applications are available online at www.spanishfortschools.com and must be submitted to principals by 4 p.m. Jan. 19 to be considered.

Grant awards for 2008-09 were as follows: