Austin Ed Fund Announces 2021 Special Grant Program Recipients

AUSTIN, TX — Austin ISD's nonprofit public education foundation has announced the first round of recipients of its Special Grant Program for 2021.

Austin Ed Fund announced Wednesday it had selected 15 projects from teachers and staff across AISD with innovative approaches that attempt to solve inequities in the community exacerbated by the ongoing pandemic.

“This past year we were able to see how teachers took the over $380,000 in funding they received from the 2020 Special Grant Program and applied it directly into their classrooms in creative ways,” said Austin Ed Fund Executive Director Michelle Wallis. “We are hopeful these projects are a part of our collective healing within the district and across our community.”

The first cycle of the Special Grant Program awarded a total of $66,060 to recipients. Teachers across AISD submitted proposals requesting over $139,000.

Of submitted projects, 63% were partially or fully funded, helping teachers and students to enhance classroom learning and furthering student education through unique projects, officials said.

All AISD educators are eligible to apply but priority is given to campuses with a higher percentage of students who qualify for free or reduced meals or to projects that address marginalized student groups, officials said.

This grant program awards up to $10,000 for projects that are collaborative and have a team or campus-wide impact, while requests up to $2,500 will be awarded for projects that impact individual classrooms.

The application window for the second cycle is open and is due June 25. The opportunity is open exclusively for AISD educators and campus leaders.

To submit an application for the second cycle, learn more about this year’s recipients, or make a contribution to the Austin Ed Fund to support ongoing needs, visit www.austinedfund.org.

For additional information on the individual projects, click HERE.

2021 Special Grant Program Recipients: First Round

• Alternative Learning Center: $6,400

P.S.O.S (Please Stock Our Shelves) - ALC Campus Store

• Andrews Elementary: $5,000

Diversifying Our Collection & Discovering Our Voices in Diverse Reads

• Bailey Middle School: $429

Creating Equity for At-Home Life Skills Students with Learning Kits

• Blackshear Elementary: $3,000

Literacy to Life/Story Wranglers

• Bowie High School: $1,000

Project-Based Research - Homeless Teens Assistance

• Casey Elementary: $2,135

Outdoor Classroom Learning Kits

• Cook Elementary: $5,000

Update Cook’s 20-Year-Old Library Collection

• Galindo Elementary: $2,352

Building Our Community: Using Literacy as Mirrors, Windows & Sliding Glass Doors

• Gullett Elementary: $10,000

Yes We Can! An Unprecedented Opportunity to Improve Student Outcomes

• International High School: $9,844

International School Store

• Small Middle School: $2,500

If You Build It - STEM Tools for the Classroom

• Uphaus Early Childhood Center: $1,480

Communication for All Students Is Key!

• Walnut Creek Elementary: $10,000

The Arcolris Project

• Widen Elementary: $1,920

Dry-Erase Tables

• Webb Middle School: $5,000

Never Alone, We Got You!