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Great Public Schools Fund Grants $2.8 Million for Innovative Ideas that Will Help Students Succeed

  • 03/28/18

Washington, D.C. – The National Education Association has awarded $2.8 million in grants to eight state and local affiliates from its Great Public Schools (GPS) Fund grants program. GPS Fund grants are designed to help enhance the education profession and promote student success.

“GPS Fund grants help educators lead our efforts to grow and strengthen our professions to ensure every student in this country has access to a quality public education,” said NEA Vice President Becky Pringle. “Through grant-funded and educator-led programs, our members can turn innovative ideas into policies and practices that cultivate professional excellence and student success, support early career educators, and help advance racial justice in education.”

NEA members established the GPS Fund in 2013 to advance good ideas and smart policies that benefit students and public education. Previous GPS Fund grants have supported programs to prevent bullying and suicide, increase the number of National Board Certified Teachers (NBCTs), advance education support professionals’ work on the “whole student” approach, and provide professional development opportunities for all educators. The grants support programs designed to focus on student-centered success, on professional accomplishment and on dynamic collaboration among empowered educators.

“It’s clear that educators play an essential role when it comes to helping students learn and succeed,” said Pringle. “The GPS Fund empowers educators to spread their knowledge and expertise so our shared vision of great public schools for all students becomes a reality.”

Since its inception, the GPS Fund has awarded more than $32 million to 78 NEA state and local affiliates. The grants fund promising projects and ideas that improve student success. The grants also help NEA affiliates build partnerships with local organizations and work with key education stakeholders to develop and implement programs and policies that emphasize student success through union-led efforts.

To learn more about the GPS Fund grants and the current grant recipients visit www.nea.org/grants/gpsfundgrants.html.

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