Pennsylvania Education Organizations Awarded Funds in Highly Competitive Federal Innovation Competition

HARRISBURG, Pa., Aug. 5 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Two Pennsylvania education organizations are receiving up to $30 million in federal Recovery Act funding to further develop promising innovations in education that will benefit Pennsylvania students, acting Education Secretary Thomas E. Gluck announced today.

Children's Learning Initiative, based in Philadelphia, and ASSET Inc., based in Pittsburgh, were awarded highly-competitive "validation" grants through the i3 fund to build upon programs which have shown evidence of success.

The i3 fund, an American Recovery and Reinvestment Act program, was developed to support local efforts to start or expand innovative, research-based programs with demonstrated success in helping close the achievement gap and improve outcomes for high-need students. The competition was open to school districts, nonprofit organizations and institutions of higher education.

"Children's Learning Initiative and ASSET Inc. both have histories of positive impact on Pennsylvania's children," said Gluck. "We're proud that these organizations have been nationally recognized as leaders in innovative educational programs and will be able to expand their successful programs, and benefit more children, through the i3 fund. The program is helping test new ideas and to expand efforts that we already know are bringing good results."

Children's Learning Initiative and ASSET Inc. were among only 49 selected from nearly 1,700 applicants received from throughout the nation.

To receive a share of the $650 million of i3 funds, the winning applicants must secure a commitment for a 20-percent private sector match by September 3.

Grants for the i3 funds fell in three categories, which included "scale-up" grants for programs with a strong track record of success, "validation" grants for growing programs and "development" grants for promising new programs. "Scale-up" applications were eligible for up to $50 million, "validation" applications were eligible for up to $30 million and "development" applications were eligible for up to $5 million.

Also among the 49 winning applications are seven other organizations that will partner with Pennsylvania school districts, nonprofit organizations and institutions of higher education. Some of the school districts and communities that will benefit from these i3 funds include Easton, Homestead, Reading, Bethlehem, Carnegie, East Stroudsburg, Wrightsville, Erie City SD, Philadelphia and Harrisburg City SD.

For additional information on the i3 funds and descriptions of winner initiatives, visit http://www2.ed.gov/programs/innovation/index.html

Media contact: Leah Harris, 717-783-9802.

SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Education