Press release, 2017 November 13

For immediate release Nov. 13, 2017

Office of Communications (404) 651-7774

Deal announces Innovation Fund Accelerator award winners

Gov. Nathan Deal today announced the six award winners who will participate in the Innovation Fund Accelerator, a competitive grant opportunity that provides funding to local educational agencies, regional educational service agencies, traditional public schools and charter schools to develop innovative programs that address challenging and complex educational issues.

"The Innovation Fund Accelerator connects leaders in education with additional resources to develop innovative solutions that improve student achievement," said Deal. "By investing in programs that address the challenges facing our education system today, we are building a stronger foundation for Georgia's students to succeed in the classroom of tomorrow and the workforce of the future. Congratulations to the award winners and we look forward to learning how each innovative program will improve opportunities for student growth and success."

Award winners will receive a $10,000 grant to support activities directly related to Innovation Fund Accelerator participation. Upon successful completion of the Innovation Fund Accelerator, participants can apply for an additional grant of up to $45,000 to pilot the innovative programs they developed.

Programs supported by the Innovation Fund Accelerator must align with one of the four following priority areas: applied learning with a focus on science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM) education, development and replication of blended and

personalized learning school models, birth-to-age-eight language and literacy development, and teacher and leader development for high-need schools.
The grant award winners and their respective programs are listed below:
Applied Learning with a Focus on STEAM Education
Peachcrest Elementary School DeKalb County School District The Peach Goes Green
West Jackson Elementary School Jackson County School System AIM Higher
Birth-To-Age-Eight Language and Literacy Development
Carrollton City Schools Literacy Without Limits
Villa Rica Elementary School Carroll County School System Improving Early Literacy
Teacher and Leader Development for High-Need Schools

Department of Juvenile Justice Operation Turnaround: Recruit, Retrain, and Retain
Latin Grammar School Fulton County Schools Teachers are Brain Surgeons
Descriptions of the programs are attached.
About the Innovation Fund The Innovation Fund invests in public education entities that develop and scale programs that enable Georgia educators to improve student performance and tackle our state's most significant education challenges. In 2011, the Innovation Fund began as a $19.4 million grant competition created under Georgia's Race to the Top (RT3) Plan. To continue the Innovation Fund's work beyond RT3, Deal appropriated state funding for Fiscal Years 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018. Since its inception, the Innovation Fund has invested more than $33 million of state and federal funding through 148 grants to school districts, charter schools, postsecondary institutions and nonprofit organizations to pilot innovative education programs, ranging in focus from teacher and leader induction and development to STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) applied learning, blended learning and birth-to-age-eight language and literacy development. More information about the Innovation Fund is available on the GOSA website.
Jen Talaber Ryan jen.ryan@georgia.gov
John Vaughan john.vaughan@georgia.gov

INNOVATION FUND ACCELERATOR GRANTEES NOVEMBER 2017

Grantee Priority Area Project Name Program Description

Carrollton City Schools Birth to Age Eight Language and Literacy Literacy Without Limits Carrollton City Schools will refine their idea for Literacy Without Limits a program that will identify and equip teachers and leaders with the knowledge and skills they need to address the literacy needs of their students and community.

Grantee Priority Area Project Name Program Description

Department of Juvenile Justice Teacher and Leader Development for High-Need Schools Operation Turnaround: Recruit, Retrain, and Retain The Department of Juvenile Justice will develop a program to recruit and retain high-quality teachers who can effectively serve its student body.

Grantee Grantee School District Priority Area Project Name Program Description

Latin Grammar School Fulton County Schools Teacher and Leader Development for High-Need Schools Teachers are Brain Surgeons Latin Grammar School will develop a program that delivers personalized professional development designed to maximize each teacher's potential, and ultimately, positively impact students' learning experiences.

Grantee Grantee School District Priority Area Project Name Program Description

Peachcrest Elementary School DeKalb County School District Applied Learning with a Focus on STEAM Education The Peach Goes Green Peachcrest Elementary School will design a program that leverages STEAM technology, like aquaponics, to advance student achievement and effectively engage parents and families.

Grantee Grantee School District Priority Area Project Name Program Description

Villa Rica Elementary School Carroll County School System Birth to Age Eight Language and Literacy Development Improving Early Literacy Villa Rica Elementary School will develop a program that transforms language and literacy instruction for pre-kindergarten through second grade students.

Grantee Grantee School District Priority Area Project Name Program Description

West Jackson Elementary School Jackson County School System Applied Learning with a Focus on STEAM Education AIM Higher West Jackson Elementary School will design a program that leverages innovative instructional practices, real-world learning experiences, and partnerships to encourage students to AIM (accelerate, innovative, motivate) higher.