2012 Investing in Innovation Applicants Secure Support from Private Donors

Publication: U.S. Department of Education
Date: December 18, 2012

Summary: The U.S. Department of Education announced all 20 of the highest-rated applicants in the 2012 Investing in Innovation (i3) competition have secured their required private-sector matching funds and have become official i3 grantees. The National Writing Project and the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards are now listed as official i3 grantees.

Excerpt from Press Release

Today the U.S. Department of Education announced all 20 of the highest-rated applicants in the 2012 Investing in Innovation (i3) competition have secured their required private-sector matching funds and have become official i3 grantees. Together, they will share more than $140 million in federal funds to expand innovative practices designed to accelerate achievement and help prepare every student to succeed in college and in their careers.

"We know private partners play a huge role in driving local education reform efforts when they can invest in promising ideas, and these grantees have proposed a variety of innovative approaches to close achievement gaps and ultimately prepare every student for lifelong success," said U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. "Partnerships like these are vital to supporting teachers and students as they tackle some of the toughest issues in education."

The i3 program announced these 20 highest-rated applications last month. Applicants then had four weeks to secure private-sector matching funds, either in cash or in-kind. In total, private donors are providing more than $16 million to support this year's i3 projects. The 20 grantees, which were selected from 727 applications, represent a cross-section of school districts, universities and nonprofits that are partnering with schools across the country to increase student learning. . . .

Validation grantees (10 percent private match required) [ 1 ] . . .

• National Writing Project will work in 40 rural districts across eight states to provide professional development to writing teachers to expand their practice of teaching analytical writing to improve student performance, and become teacher-leaders in rural communities.
  
  Grantee location: Berkeley, Calif.
  i3 grant: $14,902,854
  Matching funds: $1,494,885
  
  

Development grantees (15 percent private match required) [ 1 ] . . .

• National Board for Professional Teaching Standards will work to raise achievement levels of high need students in grades 3-6, particularly in math and science, by improving teaching practices through the use of a virtual library of lesson plans, including videos accompanied by analysis.
  
  Grantee location: Arlington, Va.
  i3 grant: $2,990,770
  Matching funds: $450,000
  
  

Read the Full Press Release

Read "All 2012 Investing in Innovation Top Applicants Secure Support from Private Donors" on the U.S. Department of Education's website .