Synopsys Outreach Foundation

Science Project Support Program

East Side Union High School District Teachers
in Santa Clara County, CA


 • Purpose
 • Who Qualifies to Apply for Science Project Support?
 • Expectations for Teachers
 • Key Provisions - Science Project Support for Projects in The Synopsys Championship
 • Key Provisions - Science Project Support for Projects in sciencepalooza!
 • Science Project Support Guidelines and Limitations
 • Apply for Science Project Support


 • 


Handbook Table of Contents MS Word Document (28 KB)
 • Science Fair Handbook MS Word Document (812 KB)
 • Science Fairs Presentation MS PowerPoint Presentation (1.2 MB)

Purpose

The purpose of the Science Project Support Program is to assist teachers in supervising students' science projects to enter in sciencepalooza! and/or The Synopsys Championship and recognize time spent outside the classroom in supervising these projects.

Who Qualifies to Apply for Science Project Support?

Applications will be accepted ONLY from teachers who intend to devote time outside normal classroom hours for projects entered in The Synopsys Championship and/or sciencepalooza!. Teachers must agree to have this time verified by a school official.

Teachers supervising student projects exclusively during normal classroom hours may NOT apply for Science Project Support.

The Synopsys Championship

The Synopsys Silicon Valley Science and Technology Championship is the Regional Science Fair, open to students in grades 6-12. A minimum of three Grand Prize projects from the ESUHSD advance to the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF).

sciencepalooza!

sciencepalooza! is a science fair organized and administered by the ESUHSD and the Synopsys Silicon Valley Science and Technology Outreach Foundation. Entering its twelfth year, sciencepalooza! is open to ESUHSD students, and students from select area high schools. This event is designed especially, but not exclusively, for students who are developing science projects for the first time and/or as preparation for those students who plan to enter their project in The Synopsys Championship.

sciencepalooza! is scheduled for March 5, 2011 at the Santa Clara County Fair Grounds.

sciencepalooza! Entry Form (Available October 15)

Note: ESUHSD students may enter projects in either or both The Synopsys Championship and sciencepalooza!. (These two events have different application forms and review processes.)

Expectations for Teachers

Per Science Project Support Package awarded, provide a minimum of 4 hours, outside normal classroom hours, of direction, guidance and assistance to students developing science projects to be entered in the sciencepalooza!.

Per Science Project Support Package awarded, provide a minimum of 5 hours, outside normal classroom hours, of direction, guidance and assistance to students developing science projects to be entered in The Synopsys Championship.

Example:
A teacher applies for a total of 20 Science Project Support Packages: 8 Support Packages for projects to be entered in sciencepalooza!, and 12 Support Packages for projects to be entered in The Synopsys Championship.

The teacher must spend 32 hours (8 projects x 4 hours), outside normal classroom hours, supervising the projects to be entered in sciencepalooza!; and must spend an additional 60 hours (12 projects x 5 hours), outside normal classroom hours, for projects to be entered in The Synopsys Championship.

Notify a principal or school administrator that a Principal Verification Form must be submitted to the Foundation to verify the hourly requirements (above).

In advance, arrange an ongoing process of verification with a principal or administrator.

Encourage students to undertake projects of significant depth and term.

Provide direction, guidance and assistance to ensure the proper and timely submission of applications for participation in sciencepalooza! and The Synopsys Championship.

Enter a minimum of one student project in The Synopsys Championship.

Serve as a JUDGE at sciencepalooza!

Understand that the Science Project Support is taxable income. Science Project Support totaling $600 and more is reported to the IRS on a 1099 tax form. Science Project Support of any amount is reported to the California EDD on Form DE542.

Key Provisions of Science Project Support for Teachers with Entrants in The Synopsys Championship

A $150 per project Science Project Support Package, payable directly to the teacher. Each Science Project Support Package requires a minimum of 5 hours outside normal classroom hours (see above). Science Projects must be accepted and entered in The Synopsys Championship.

A donation of $25 per project payable directly to the school, for project materials, equipment, application fees, etc.

There is a maximum limit of 20 Science Project Support Packages per teacher.

Key Provisions of a Science Project Support for Teachers with Entrants in sciencepalooza!

A $125 per project Science Project Support Package, payable directly to the teacher. Each Science Project Support Package requires a minimum of 4 hours outside normal classroom hours (see above). Science Projects must be accepted and entered in sciencepalooza!

A donation of $25 per project, payable directly to the school, for project materials, equipment, application fees, etc.

There is a maximum limit of 19 Science Project Support Packages per teacher.

Science Project Support Guidelines and Limitations

Principal Verification Forms must be received by the Foundation no later than April 1, 2011.

Science Project Support Packages are awarded on a per project basis.

Science Project Support Packages are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.

A maximum of three students may work on one project.

All teachers are required to enter AT LEAST ONE project in The Synopsys Championship.

A teacher may apply for a maximum combination of 20 Science Project Support Packages (e.g., a teacher may receive Science Project Support for 6 projects for The Synopsys Championship, and 14 projects for sciencepalooza!, or any combination not to exceed a total of 20 projects).

A project may not be double counted (e.g. a teacher may not receive 2 Science Project Support Packages for the same project entered in The Synopsys Championship and sciencepalooza!).

Science Project Support is not awarded for technical papers.

The overall number of Science Project Support Packages available for distribution to teachers is limited.

Currently, there is no limit on the number of teachers at each school that may participate in the Science Project Support Program. However, in order to ensure an equitable distribution of support, the Synopsys Outreach Foundation may choose to impose a limit if necessary.

Students may enter projects in either or both sciencepalooza! and The Synopsys Championship. (Note: these two events have different applications forms and review processes.)

Project applications for The Synopsys Championship must be submitted and approved by the Santa Clara County Science and Engineering Fair Association (SCVSEFA).
For details, please consult the web site at www.science-fair.org

Project applications for sciencepalooza! must be submitted and approved by Ms. Heidi Black, Oak Grove High School.

Science Project Support Application

Science Project Support Applications must be submitted no later than October 15.

Please apply as soon as possible. The number of Science Project Support Packages is limited, and the application process WILL BE CLOSED once the quota is reached, and may close well before the October 15 deadline.

Please remember that completing a Science Project Support Application does not enter the project in any of the science fairs.

Click here to fill out and submit the Science Project Support Application