July 27, 2011, 12:38 am
A new report on preliminary lessons from the Department of Education’s Investing in Innovation, or i3, program suggests that it has successfully promoted school-improvement strategies based on research findings but made only marginal progress in sparking innovation.
Now in its second year, the i3 program provided $650-million in its first year for grants to nonprofits and schools for innovative and proven approaches to improving student achievement.
The report, released this week by Bellwether Education Partners, is based on a survey and interviews with experts, program applicants, and philanthropists.
It says that i3 has heightened the importance of evidence—measuring results to prove that a program is working—particularly among foundations and other organizations that provided money to grant winners. It has also brought increased visibility and support to the grantees.
…
June 3, 2011, 11:18 am
The Education Department announced that it will award $150-million to nonprofits and school districts in the second round of grants for school-improvement projects under the Investing in Innovation program. Also known as “i3,” the program will provide the money to groups that can show evidence they will be successful.
The grant amount is down from $650-million last year, when i3 first received money under the federal economic-stimulus program. That money went to 49 groups, including $50-million each to Teach for America, the alternative teacher-training program, and the Knowledge Is Power Program, also known as KIPP, which operates charter schools.
The department said applicants for this year’s grants must focus on one of the following:
Public Measures explores efforts by the Obama administration to spur innovative solutions to problems like persistent poverty. It is written by Patrick Lester, senior vice president for public policy for the Alliance for Children and Families and United Neighborhood Centers of America.
Follow
Public Measures through your favorite RSS reader.
