i3 Grant Program Opens with New Priorities for 2011
Education technology has been added to the list of competitive priorities for the Investing in Innovation Fund, while STEM and rural schools gain "absolute" priority status for 2011.
The Investing in Innovation (i3) grant program for schools has received a major facelift. Based on "substantial feedback from prior applicants and other stakeholders," the United States Department of Education has revamped the rules and made it easier for schools to obtain matching funds.
The Investing in Innovation Fund provides competitive grants designed to encourage programs that boost student achievement and college readiness, improve science education, turn around low-performing schools, and support teacher/administrator effectiveness.
The 2011 i3 grant program, which formally opened Friday, will provide up to $150 million in funding to support "innovative approaches" to school reform that propose to improve student achievement and attainment and boost engagement in learning. This year's recipients will be awarded grants ranging from $3 million to $25 million, depending on the type of grant awarded, down from $5 million to $50
