In the Fall of 2009, the US Department of Education announced that it would make $650 million available via an Investing in Innovation Fund (i3). i3 funds are designed to support efforts to start or expand innovative research-based programs that close the achievement gap and improve outcomes for students. On February 12 Crecer Strategies, supported by the National Service Learning Partnership, led a Web-based conversation among service-learning leaders and practitioners to discuss the opportunity that the i3 Fund offers to service-learning programs.
The Investing in Innovation Fund, established under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, provides funding to support (1) Local Education Agencies and (2) nonprofit organizations in partnership with (a) one or more Local Education Agencies or (b) a consortium of schools. The Department proposes to award three types of grants: Scale-Up grants (up to $50 million), Validation grants (up to $30 million) and Development grants (up to $5 million).
Service-learning is a dynamic educational approach that plays an integral role in transforming the education of young people in schools across the country. Our presentation makes the case that innovative service-learning programs can and should take advantage of the unique opportunity the i3 Fund presents.
Download the presentation or contact usif you are interested in this important initiative and its relationship to service-learning.
