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Grant Program to Fund Professional Development Projects

  • By Sara Friedman
  • 10/17/19
Teacher and student collaborating

The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI) has announced a $1.2 million grant to automatically fund nearly 700 professional development projects posted by teachers on DonorsChoose. The grant also provides teachers with access to NeuroTeach, an online professional development tool that helps educators to bring research-backed teaching practices into their classrooms.

The program is providing support to 600 teachers across 36 states and CZI will continue matching donations to new professional development projects on DonorsChoose while funds last.

"We see that teachers are willing to ask social networks for support funding classroom materials, but are often reluctant to seek funding for their own professional development," said Charles Best, founder of DonorsChoose. "This grant gives hundreds of teachers the chance to invest in themselves, turn research into practice, and stay ahead of the curve in a dynamic, challenging profession."

Some of the projects funded by the grant include:

  • Supporting professional conferences to learn improved literacy instruction practices to increase student achievement.
  • Obtaining certifications in teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL).
  • Trainings in instilling mindfulness, social-emotional learning and kindness in students.

More information on how to support professional development projects is available on the DonorsChoose website.

About the Author

Sara Friedman is a reporter/producer for Campus Technology, THE Journal and STEAM Universe covering education policy and a wide range of other public-sector IT topics.

Friedman is a graduate of Ithaca College, where she studied journalism, politics and international communications.

Friedman can be contacted at [email protected] or follow her on Twitter @SaraEFriedman.

Click here for previous articles by Friedman.


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