The New Orleans school systems have been using a federal grant to improve their teaching abilities, while implementing more modern educational lessons.
The $650 million grant program, known as the Investing in Innovation program, was part of the government’s 2009 $100 billion investment in the public school systems nationwide. The program reflects President Barack Obama’s determination to reform the nation’s schools by fixing existing educational systems as well as encouraging innovation.
"We want ideas that work to actually grow faster because they were a part of this program," said Jim Shelton, the director of the Investing for Innovation program for the U.S. Department of Education. "We want new ideas to enter the space that would not have gotten funded otherwise - ideas that are demonstrated to be significantly better than the status quo."
The grants have begun to show success - before Hurricane Katrina hit the city, nearly two-thirds of students attending failing schools, whereas that figure has dropped to 17 percent currently.
Many schools receiving such grants have recently invested in newer technologies, such as computers, smartboards and classroom projectors.
In addition to Investing in Innovation, other programs, such as Race to the Top and the School Improvement Grant, have been awarding schools with funds to further education.
