U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan announced today the 26 highest-rated applications for the U.S. Department of Education’s $129 million Investing in Innovation (i3) 2014 competition aimed at developing innovative approaches to improving student achievement and replicating effective strategies across the country.
These 26 potential i3 grantees selected from 434 applications and representing 14 states and the District of Columbia, must secure matching funds by Dec. 10, 2014, in order to receive federal funding. All highest-rated applications in previous years have secured matching funds and become grantees. To date, the Department’s signature tiered-evidence program has funded 117 unique i3 projects that seek to provide innovative solutions to pressing education challenges.
“These programs are changing the landscape of education in this country by supporting innovative ideas and scaling up what works,” said Secretary Duncan. “This round of i3 grantees is poised to have real impact in areas of critical need, including STEM education and rural communities, on projects ranging from enhancing students’ non-cognitive skills to serving English learners to personalized learning opportunities that will prepare more students for college, career and life.”
Secretary Duncan made the announcement today at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, where he visited with high school students in the North Carolina New Schools program, a 2011 i3 grantee that was also selected this year as a highest-rated application for an additional grant this year. This new grant will expand North Carolina New Schools’ successful approach to four new states and help students from mostly rural schools prepare for college. This is the first i3 Scale-up grant the Department has awarded since 2011.
