Innovative Education Fund Grant Winners

2026 Prototype & Expansion Grant Winners

• Crawford County Middle High School of Crawford County School District, $25,000, Prototype Grant, To pilot the Cadet STEM Innovation Lab, transforming a classroom into a high-tech hub that integrates JROTC leadership with hands-on robotics, aerospace, and manufacturing training while building a sustainable pipeline of STEM skills, certifications, and mentorship for over 50 cadets annually.
• Oglethorpe County High School of Oglethorpe County School System, $50,000, Prototype Grant, To pilot a Practical Assessment Exploration System (PAES) Lab, creating a simulated workplace that enables students with IEPs to complete hands-on vocational tasks, generate performance-based data for transition planning, and connect to clear workforce pathways through structured assessment and community partnerships.
• OneGoal in partnership with Henry County Schools, $50,000, Expansion Grant, To exapnd OneGoal’s credit-bearing postsecondary advising program in Henry County Schools, embedding structured college and career support into the school day to increase enrollment and persistence for over 500 students, particularly those in the academic middle.
• Richmond Hill High School of Bryan County School System, $48,000, Prototype Grant, To pilot a student journalism program and digital newspaper, providing hands-on media production experiences that build writing, critical thinking, and ethical reporting skills while establishing a sustainable, curriculum-integrated platform for student voice and community engagement.
• Southern Regional Education Board in partnership with Lowndes High School of Lowndes County Schools, $50,000, Prototype Grant, To pilot Learning with Ethical AI Practices (LEAP), building teacher and student capacity to use artificial intelligence ethically across content areas while strengthening writing, reasoning, and research skills through structured professional learning and a scalable implementation model.

2024 Winners

• Ballard Hudson Middle School of Bibb County School District, $50,000, Prototype Grant, To pilot a three-pronged, technology-centered approach to student and faculty wellness, CTAE, and new teacher retention.
• Cartersville High School of Cartersville City Schools, $50,000, Prototype Grant, To connect Cartersville High School students with community leaders and teachers for mentorship opportunities that will provide meaningful relationships, on-time counseling, academic support, workforce training, life-skills workshops, service project opportunities, and a comprehensive leadership development plan.
• Georgia Council on Economic Education in partnership with Greene County School District, $25,000, Prototype Grant, To develop a comprehensive teacher training program, including effective and practical professional development workshops, grade- and content-specific lesson plans, and interactive online modules that demonstrate how to seamlessly integrate economics and personal finance into daily teaching.
• Herman J. Russell West End Academy of Atlanta Public Schools, $45,000, Expansion Grant, To expand a STEAM program that allows students to join a range of science, technology, arts, and math clubs.
• Inner Explorer in partnership with Clayton County Public Schools, $50,000, Expansion Grant, To expand supports, including mindfulness awareness practices, behavioral interventions, guided journaling exercises, and counseling, to additional Clayton County Public Schools. 
• Jackson County School System, $35,000, Expansion Grant, To provide targeted opportunities for ELL students to engage in “gamified” STEAM Storybus activities that support the building and use of content vocabulary.
• L.P. Miles Elementary School of Atlanta Public Schools, $25,000, Prototype Grant, To implement the “Learn & Earn Project Based Learning (PBL) Project,” which is an afterschool, project-based learning program designed to teach students about entrepreneurship through exploration, research, and community outreach.
• Latin American Association in partnership with Cross Keys High School of DeKalb County School District, $50,000, Expansion Grant, To provide after-school and summer school programming for thousands of students.
• Marietta Sixth Grade Academy & Marietta Middle School of Marietta City Schools, $50,000, Prototype Grant, To pilot a new “Sheltered Content” program where ELs in the middle grades receive language and content instruction in a class composed of only newcomer students.
• Muscogee County School District, $22,500, Expansion Grant, To provide professional development and certification to paraprofessionals to support a seamless transition to a full time, fully certified teacher.
• Next Generation Men & Women, Inc. in partnership with Atlanta Public Schools, Fulton County Schools, and Bibb County School District, $50,000, Expansion Grant, To expose students to different opportunities, and equip youth with the skills they need to succeed directly out of high school.
• Savannah-Chatham Public School System, $12,505, Prototype Grant, To to enroll nurses in the six-week, online Spanish for Medical Professionals course at Savannah Technical College.
• University of North Georgia in partnership with Gainesville City Schools, Hall County Schools, and Forsyth County Schools, $40,000, Expansion Grant, To recruit new candidates to the field by increasing the supply of new teachers available to fill staffing shortages.

2023 Winners

• Charles R. Drew Charter School of Atlanta Public Schools, $25,000, Prototype Grant
• Central Savannah River Area Regional Educational Service Agency, $20,000, Expansion Grant
• Georgia College & State University in partnership with Bulloch County Schools and Newton County Schools, $25,000, Prototype Grant
• Gwinnett InterVention Education (GIVE) Center West of Gwinnett County Public Schools, $25,000, Prototype Grant
• Hope Givers in partnership with Troup County Schools, $20,000, Expansion Grant
• Jasper County Primary School of Jasper County Charter System, $25,000, Prototype Grant
• Marietta High School of Marietta City Schools, $25,000, Prototype Grant
• Newton County Schools, $20,000, Expansion Grant
• Oglethorpe County High School of Oglethorpe County Schools, $25,000, Prototype Grant
• Otwell Middle School of Forsyth County Schools, $4,101, Mini Grant
• Satilla Marsh Elementary School of Glynn County Schools, $4,947, Mini Grant
• Tattnall County High School of Tattnall County Schools, $3,675, Mini Grant
• The Literacy Lab in partnership Atlanta Public Schools, $20,000, Expansion Grant
• University of North Georgia Research Foundation, Inc. in partnership with Hall County Schools and Gainesville City Schools, $20,000, Expansion Grant
• YMCA of Coastal Georgia in partnership with Savannah-Chatham County Public School System, $25,000, Prototype Grant

2022 Winners

• Calhoun City Schools, $20,000, Prototype Grant
• Georgia Gwinnett College in partnership with Alford Elementart School of Gwinnett County Public Schools, Prototype Grant
• Hand, Heart & Soul Project in partnership with 7 Pillars Career Academy of Clayton County Public Schools, $20,000, Prototype Grant
• Leap Year in partnership with Atlanta Public Schools, $20,000, Prototype Grant
• Newton County Schools, $5,000, Mini Grant
• West Central Elementary School of Rome City Schools, $5,000, Mini Grant

Evaluation Reports

• 2023 Innovative Education Fund Evaluation Report  IEF 2023 Mid-Year Report
• 2022 Innovative Education Fund Final Evaluation Report  IEF 2022 Final Evaluation Report