This booklet describes the mini-awards programs that are provided by teacher centers as an alternative form of inservice teacher education. Mini-awards (or mini-grants) are monetary incentives given to an individual teacher or to a group of teachers to encourage curriculum and staff development and to address the professional needs of teachers. The information in this booklet is based on a survey of mini-award programs in 27 teacher centers. In a question-and-answer format, characteristics of mini-awards are explained, including how awards are used, how much a mini-award program costs, applications procedures and evaluations, and how projects are monitored. Problems in initiating a mini-awards program and ways that results are disseminated are also outlined. Appendices provide: (1) a list of teacher centers with mini-award programs; (2) two sample mini-awards application forms; (3) recommended guidelines for writing a mini-award proposal; (4) examples of contracts; (5) proposal evaluation criteria from three centers; and (6) two examples of announcements of mini-award programs. (FG)