Funding, Grants and Awards

Georgia Institutions Share $4.5 Million in Grants

• By Michael Hart
• 12/17/14

Eighteen educational institutions and groups in Georgia will share $4.5 million over the next two years to improve student achievement in the state.

Georgia Governor Nathan Deal has announced the award winners of the Innovation Fund, a competitive grant program.

The fund began as part of Georgia's Race to the Top campaign to improve education. It is funded by both the state government and philanthropies.

The program is intended to serve several different priorities:

• Applied learning with a focus on science, technology, engineering and math education;
• Development of blended learning school models;
• Development of innovative resource management models; and
• Professional development for teachers.

As an example, a $10,000 award will go to the New Hope Education Center in Dallas, GA, to plan a blended learning program that will target students who have not been successful in the traditional high school environment.

"I am confident these funds will give our schools and groups devoted to education the opportunity to focus on applied learning techniques and STEM development," said Deal. "Together, we can help every Georgia student experience an innovative enriching educational environment."

The award amounts and timing of the release of the funds depends on the stage at which the winning project is. For instance, planning grants (like the one New Hope is getting) will give winning institutions $10,000 over the next year. Those who are in the implementation stage will get $1 million over two years and the groups and schools who want to scale up projects already in place will get $200,000 over two years.