Federal Grants Awarded to Improve K-12 Teaching in Minnesota

Archive

3/2/2011

 

For Immediate Release

Contact: Sandy Connolly, Director of Communications
Office of Higher Education
(651) 259-3902

Nineteen grants totaling more than $1 million were awarded to Minnesota higher education institutions and nonprofit organizations to support improved K-12 instruction in mathematics, science, civics and government, economics, history and geography, the Office of Higher Education announced today.

"These professional development programs delivered by our colleges and universities provide tremendous value to Minnesota teachers, and in turn, their students," said Dr. Sheila Wright, Director for the Minnesota Office of Higher Education. "Program proposals are developed across the state and reflect some of the best ideas in teacher education and collaboration."

The grants, totaling $1,039,846, were made available with federal funds from the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. With the funds designated for higher education under this initiative, each state's higher education agency awards competitive grants to colleges, universities and nonprofit organizations working in partnership with one or more high-need school districts. The grants help school districts ensure that all students have teachers with the most current subject-matter knowledge and teaching skills to help all children achieve to high academic standards.

Grant recipients for 2011-2012 are:

• University of Minnesota: Seven grants totaling $394,908
• Hamline University: Two grants totaling $115,627
• Macalester College: Two grants totaling $110,782
• Bemidji State University: Two grants totaling $88,934
• The Minnesota Council on Economic Education: Two grants totaling $109,563
• The Bakken Museum: One grant for $59,316
• Minnesota State University, Mankato: One grant for $60,000
• The College of St. Scholastica: One grant for $52,136
• Augsburg College: One grant for $48,580

Program proposals are selected on a competitive basis by educational experts.

In total, Minnesota received $38.5 million for 2010-2011 under the federal Improving Teacher Quality Program. The Minnesota Department of Education administers the larger portion of these funds for state and district-level teacher quality efforts. Federal awards are made to state agencies and local school districts to increase student achievement through strategies such as improving teacher quality and increasing the number of highly qualified teachers in the classroom.

A detailed description of grantees and programs is available on the Minnesota Office of Higher Education Website.