For Hometown News
INDIAN RIVER COUNTY - The Education Foundation recognized Maryanne Sitkowski of Vero Beach Elementary School for receiving a $2,965 grant to fund an integrated iPad STEM project.
The funding was made possible by the Florida Legislative matching grant program.
The EF-IRC participates in a dollar-for-dollar matching grant program sponsored by the Florida Legislature. After raising funds from business, individual, civic organizations and foundation contributions, each local education foundation aligned with Florida's 67 county-wide school districts can access the matching funds annually through Consortium of Florida Education Foundations.
Funds are used in one of five programmatic areas, as determined by local education foundation leaders as priorities, these areas are: increasing graduation rates; teaching quality; literacy; low performing students; science, technology, engineering and math or STEM education and career/technical education.
Despite current state budget constraints, the legislature recognizes the matching grant program as a proven strategy for increasing private-sector interest, investment and involvement in public schools.
This commitment has resulted in an increase to 2.3 million for local education foundations in Florida.
The EF-IRC strives to build the foundation of the community through education. The grants awarded enable teachers to access funding that infuses innovative and creative processes to their classrooms.
Public Indian River County schools, elementary through high school, may apply for grants from the EF-IRC.
To learn more about current grant offerings, visit www.edfoundationirc.org/p/9/great-ideas-grants.