Recently, officials from State Farm announced the application process is underway for schools seeking education grants. The State Farm Advisory Board issues grants ranging from $25,000 to $100,000 annually.
Grant requests must focus on specific areas, such as natural and societal disaster prepardness, driver safety, accessing higher education and closing the achievement gap, financial education and environmental responsibility. Eligible educational institutions include public K-12, charter or higher education institutions. Non-profit organizations are also eligible, if they can explain how the grant would help them with student achievement at K-12 schools.
Typically, schools receiving education grants have focused on upgrading their technology, implementing such high-tech objects as smartboards, computers or classroom projectors.
A recent Cisco study of more than 500 education administrators worldwide found that classroom technology improves the educational development of students.
In addition to State Farm, several other major companies in the U.S. have begun issuing education grants. MetLife, Lowe's, Wells Fargo and JPMorgan Chase have all contributed to aid educational development.
