The Florida Department of Education recently announced 11 school districts throughout the state will receive grants totaling $25 million from the federal government's Race to the Top program.
The grants will be used to fund projects specified in each district's application, the department stated in a press release. Projects can include anything from new technology, the development of teacher and principal evaluation systems and the expansion of science, technology, engineering and math programs, among others.
Grant recipients include Alachua, Calhoun, Clay, DeSoto, Gulf, Hendry, Holmes, Manatee, Pasco, Putnam and Washington school districts.
Many schools will use federal funding for technology upgrades to offer students a more interactive learning experience. Educators have found connecting a laptop or other digital devices to an HD-TV, LED monitor or HDMI projector can create a learning environment in which students are more likely to participate.
The department noted that additional grant recipients will be announced by the end of the month. Overall, the U.S. Department of Education plans to issue $700 million through the Race to the Top program nationwide.
