At a reception yesterday in Newark, N.J., 25 teams of teachers received over $200,000 in “teacher innovation” grants. Funded by Facebook Founder Mark Zuckerberg’s $100 million gift to the city’s schools and managed by the Foundation for Newark’s Future, the grants aim to help teachers start programs tailored to their school’s needs.
According to The Star Ledger, more than 100 teacher teams applied for the grants. Among the winners were teams that will use the money to improve literacy, integrate iPads into special education classes, and assist students in chemistry research. One team won $8,600 to develop “an inquiry-based social justice curriculum” through which students will research Newark. History teacher Milagro Harris, one of the recipients of the grant, explains that the project can help Newark kids to “become experts on their own lives.”
The Star Ledger also reports that Newark teachers “who wish to apply for additional innovation grants may compete this fall for nearly $400,000.”