Investing in Innovation


Rural School Innovations Webinar: The Niswonger Foundation's Northeast Tennessee College and Career Ready Consortium

The fourth webinar in a series on rural school innovations is scheduled for September 21st. Sign up now.


New i3 Guidelines Better for Rural Schools

The deadline to apply for 2011 Investing in Innovation grants is August 2. New guidelines make rural schools one of five Absolute Priorities, and other changes could make the i3 program more responsive to the unique needs of rural students and their schools.
Date: June 26, 2011
Related Categories: Investing in Innovation, Rural Policy Matters
Related Tags: Federal Programs, Investing in Innovation, Research


Peer Reviewers Needed to Assess i3 Applications

Reviewers with experience in and knowledge about rural education are needed to help rate applications for the federal Investing in Innovation (i3) competitive grant program. Peer reviewer applications will be accepted through July 8.
Date: June 25, 2011
Related Categories: Investing in Innovation, Rural Policy Matters
Related Tags: Federal Programs, Investing in Innovation, Research


No Rural Cachet

Rural communities and problems get less attention from resesearchers than other commuities.
Date: June 25, 2011
Related Categories: Investing in Innovation, Rural Policy Matters
Related Tags: Federal Programs, Research, School Location


Peer Reviewers Needed for Next i3 Grant Competition

The U.S. Department of Education's Office of Innovation and Improvement is seeking peer reviewers for the newly announced FY 2011 Investing in Innovation Fund grant competition.
Date: June 20, 2011
Related Categories: Funding/Grants/Scholarships, Investing in Innovation
Related Tags: Investing in Innovation


Register Now for the Rural School Innovations Webinar: The New England Network for Personalization and Performance, May 11, 2011

Register now for the next webinar in the Rural School Innovations series.


Rural School Innovations Webinar: The New England Network for Personalization and Performance

The New England Network for Personalization and Performance (NETWORK), created by the Plymouth, Massachusetts School District and the Center for Secondary School Redesign, Inc. (CSSR), was the focus of the third Rural School and Community Trust webinar in the 2010-2011 Rural School Innovations Webinar Series.


Rural School Innovations Webinar: Search Institute's "Building Assets-Reducing Risks"

Search Institute's "Building Assets-Reducing Risks Program: Replication and Expansion of an Effective Strategy to Turn Around Low-Achieving Schools" was the focus of this Rural School Innovations Webinar from the Rural Trust.


Taking Advantage: The Rural Competitive Preference in the Investing in Innovation Program

Taking Advantage: The Rural Competitive Preference in the Investing in Innovation ProgramThis Rural Trust report analyzes the impact of the rural competitive preference in the first round of i3 grants issued by the U.S. Department of Education. The analysis considers whether the rural claim was well-made by the applicants and well-evaluated by the readers. In short, the federal grant program did little to attract authentically rural innovations to address the challenges of high-needs rural schools.


Senators Raise Concerns About Rural Districts in i3

Thirteen U.S. Senators have sent a letter to Secretary Duncan expressing concerns and raising questions about the i3 federal grant process and its impact on rural schools.


Taking Advantage of the Rural Preference in the Investing in Innovation Grant Competition

The so-called “rural preference” in the federal i3 competition did little to attract authentically rural proposals.


Rural School Innovations Webinar: "Schools to Watch"

“Schools to Watch: School Transformation Network" was the theme of the first event in the Rural Trust's 2010-2011 Rural School Innovations Webinar Series. Audio and Presentation PDF Now Available!.


i3 Awards Don't Reach Many High-Needs Rural Districts

The federal Investing in Innovation (i3) competitive grant program has laudable objectives, but it is doing little to reach high-poverty rural schools.


Foundations Launch i3 Registry

Twelve foundations are launching the Foundation Registry i3, a new online application that aims to simplify the private funding application process for potential grantees and increase access and visibility for new, especially smaller, applicants.


Rural School Districts Eligible for Federal i3 Grant Application Assistance

Through a new $1.4 million grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, the Rural School and Community Trust will address provide customized technical assistance for rural school districts seeking i3 grants.
     For more information regarding technical assistance support through the Kellogg grant, please complete this short questionnaire (MSWord document) and return it via email.