Multiple Klein ISD schools awarded grants by foundation The Klein ISD Education Foundation awarded tens of thousands of dollars to several Klein ISD schools during their annual celebration express. Foundation supporters poured into the schools to award innovative classroom grants, delivering $81,631 in total, a Klein ISD news release stated. view article

Locals are also brainstorming incentives, sending out emergency cellphone alerts, running clinics in workplace break rooms and hanging sign-up sheets in churches.  At its peak, the mass COVID-19 vaccination site at the Kelly Reeves Athletic Complex in Williamson County was administering about 4,000 doses per day. Now it’s half that. County health officials will close the North Austin drive-thru hub in mid-May, shifting the responsibility to a growing number of doctors, pharmacies, public health offices and other smaller providers who have closer relationships with and easier access to the county’s estimated 200,000 eligible residents who haven’t yet gotten vaccinated. view article

Katy ISD is slated to receive about $67 million in grant funding from the U.S. Department of Education to help address unexpected costs incurred during the coronavirus pandemic. Gov. Greg Abbott in an April 28 press release announced the release of $11.2 billion in federal funds for Texas public schools, funds that will be dedicated to help districts address student learning loss and costs incurred during the pandemic. Due to federal requirements, just two-thirds of the funding is available immediately, Abbott said, through grants administered by the Texas Education Agency. view article

Orangefield ISD was awarded a $28,931 grant from the T.L.L. Temple Foundation. The money will be used for an Accelerated Learning Recovery Program due to the educational loss of COVID-19. Orangefield greatly appreciates the generosity of the T.L.L. Temple Foundation. Pictured are Shaun McAlpin, OISD Superintendent and Sunshine Copeland, OISD District Librarian/Grant Writer. view article

Effective today, districts and open-enrollment charter schools (school systems) in Texas may apply to receive their allocation of the $11.2 billion appropriated to the State of Texas for public education purposes under the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act through the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief III (ESSER III) Fund. Funds are being provided, supplemental to all other funding sources to school systems, and will not be supplanted at the state level. School systems should use these new funds to respond to the pandemic and to address student learning loss as a result of COVID-19. The eGrants electronic grant application will be available on the TEA Grant Opportunities web page on Thursday, April 29, 2021.    (29) view article

The Victoria school district was selected to partner with The Holdsworth Center. The Holdsworth Center is a non profit organization founded by the H-E-B chairman Charles Butt. Victoria school district was one of six Texas school districts selected for this cohort. The partnership is a five-year commitment. It is a $6 million partnership where districts will grow their leaders through the Holdsworth leadership institute programs. Victoria Superintendent Quintin Shepherd said this is the third time the district has applied for this partnership, and he thinks the district and students will benefit from it. “We want to be really deliberate on what we do to improve,” he said. Top level administrators will be the first to go through the leadership training program and leadership on the campuses will follow in the subsequent years. Each group that goes through the training will bring what they learned back to the district, Shepherd said.    (27) view article

Mae Stevens Early Learning Academy received three grants from the Copperas Cove Education Foundation to increase student learning, health, nutrition, and technology access. One of the grants funds a physical education program called Born to Move, which focuses on the development of various motor skills while providing children with disabilities the ability to participate with their peers through inclusive practices. view article

The Brownsville Independent School District was awarded $2,412,000 from the Musk Foundation, the district announced Wednesday. The donation comes after SpaceX CEO Elon Musk announced last month that he would donate $20 million dollars to Cameron County schools and $10 million to the City of Brownsville for revitalizing the city’s downtown area. “We are very grateful for the donation from the Musk Foundation,” BISD Superintendent Dr. René Gutiérrez said in a news release. “We are currently working on a plan to expand several of our Career and Technical Education programs and academies.” view article

BEEVILLE, Texas — Teaching in the classroom can come with many challenges. However, in Beeville, a new foundation was designed to help teachers relieve some of those obstacles and lead to student achievement. “The thing is that the more tools you can give people to work with, the better off they can do their job and be more efficient,” said Alan Pilgrim, president of the Beeville Education Foundation. view article

Harlingen, Texas (KVEO)—On Monday, the Harlingen Consolidated Independent School district announced that the district received $1 million from the Elon Musk Foundation. Developing News: Austin shooting suspect arrested, wanted for killing 3 people Two weeks ago SpaceX CEO Elon Musk announced that he was going to donate $30 million to Cameron County and the city of Brownsville. Musk said $20 million will go towards schools and $10 million will go towards the revitalization of downtown Brownsville. view article

The Point Isabel school district says it has received a donation from the Elon Musk Foundation. The announcement comes more than two weeks after the CEO of SpaceX announced plans to donate 20 million dollars to school districts in Cameron County, and 10 million dollars to the city of Brownsville. view article

The Texas Workforce Commission has awarded grants totaling $2,634,222 to eleven school districts in the Rio Grande Valley area. The grants will be used for job training programs. They were awarded to the following districts: view article

Pilgrim’s on Wednesday announced it will provide $30,000 to Kurth Primary and the Lufkin school district to purchase 25 picnic tables for outdoor eating areas to improve social distancing capabilities while students are at school. “As the COVID-19 pandemic is ongoing, I’m pleased that Pilgrim’s can help students stay safe at school by making it easier to social distance while getting some fresh air,” said Christian Dempsey, Pilgrim’s Lufkin complex manager. “This is an important investment in the health and safety of many of our Lufkin team members’ families and the greater community.” view article

A pickleball class set, robotics materials, outdoor learning materials and sensory swings are some of the projects that will be funded on campuses thanks to Longview ISD Foundation grants. The foundation awarded more than $19,000 in grants Wednesday morning at the district’s Education Support Center. Twelve Great Ideas Grants totaling $16,985 were handed out, and the Campus Initiative Grant for $2,199 went to Johnston-McQueen Elementary School. Johnston-McQueen will use the grant to obtain materials to start a robotics and coding program. view article

On March 26, representatives from the Buda Lions Club visited Hays CISD’s Central Office to present a combined $7,143 in proceeds from football concession stand sales to all three comprehensive Hays CISD high schools. Each year, the Buda Lions Club helps to operate concession stands at all Hays CISD football games during the fall and donates proceeds from the stands to each of the high schools. Hays High, which hosted eight total home football games in 2020, received a check for $3,241. Johnson High received a check for $2,439 and Lehman High received a check for $1,463. view article

Canyon ISD teachers were awarded over $15,000 in education support grants on Tuesday and Wednesday, March 30 and March 31 as part of the Education Foundation of Canyon ISD’s spring grant program. “Kids come to us with all different levels of learnings and all different levels of gaps—especially in light of the world right now,” Katie Gilliland, a Canyon High School algebra I teacher, said. “We have to make sure that we cover everything to the best of our ability.” view article

H-E-B has something special planned for Texas teachers this year. The grocery store postponed its annual Excellence in Education Awards gala due to the pandemic. However, the grocery giant is launching a Texas Loves Teacher Tour that will offer educators all kinds of goodies and freebies. view article

Klein ISD teaching and learning department awarded grant Several members of the Klein ISD teaching and learning and English language arts departments were chosen to receive a $2,000 RECESS Grant, the district announced this week. view article

Students at Lindale ISD’s Velma Penny Elementary School library jumped and danced around with joy Thursday morning as they saw the high school drumline, cheerleaders, Eagle mascot and community members come into their school. Velma Penny and the district’s other elementary campus, College Street Elementary, each received a Lindale ISD Education Foundation grant of $8,069 to fund a book vending machine, titled “Be a Reading Machine,” to encourage students to be respectful and responsible. view article

Texas Instruments Foundation grants more than $4 Million for investments in Cedar Hill, DeSoto, and Lancaster independent school districts  DALLAS, March 24, 2021 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ -- Educate Texas, an initiative of Communities Foundation of Texas, announced today more than $4 million in investments from the Texas Instruments (TI) Foundation for STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) educational programs and opportunities in three school districts in southern Dallas County -- Cedar Hill, DeSoto, and Lancaster. These districts are located in an area south of Interstates 20 and 30 – where more than one-third of residents live in poverty and where students historically lack the academic advantages of their peers in other Dallas districts to the north. view article

TYLER, Texas – The Texas Wounded Warrior Foundation donated $20,000 to the University of Texas at Tyler to support student veterans. The foundation and the Eagles Bluff Country Club Dew Boys golf group presented this award to the Richard and Madeline Lewis Scholarship. Both groups have continuously supported the scholarship for the past seven years. view article

The U.S. Department of Education announced on March 17 that State Educational Agencies (SEAs) and school districts in Texas are set to receive a total of $12.41 billion from the $121.97 billion in federal aid allocated to education in the American Rescue Plan (ARP).  Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funding in the ARP will support each state, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia‘s efforts to reopen K-12 schools safely in March and equitably expand opportunity for students who need it most.  Funds may be used to address the impacts of COVID-19 on pre-K through 12th-grade education. view article

The Astros Foundation announced today that it will be donating $65,000 to Brazosport Independent School District to fund a playground at Madge Griffith Elementary School that will be built in memoriam of Josiah McIntyre, a young Astros fan who tragically lost his life in September of 2020. McIntyre was a dedicated fan of the Astros and his favorite player, Carlos Correa. A GoFundMe campaign was created towards the goal of building a playground at Madge Griffith to honor his memory. The donation by the Astros Foundation will cover the full goal that was established by the GoFundMe campaign. view article

A state grant could help the Temple school district identify and train educators for leadership roles. Temple Independent School District announced Monday that it has been initially selected for the Texas Education Agency’s Principal Residency Grant. If selected, the grant — valued at about $700,000 — will help TISD administrators nurture existing leaders within the district and build an internal leadership pipeline, according to a news release. Educators would become principals typically spend time in the classroom, earn a master’s degree and a principal certification as well gain experience in a leadership position on campus. view article

Two Killeen area leaders recently provided a special donation of customized student-written books and a grant to enhance literacy efforts throughout Killeen ISD schools. Brockley Moore, a longtime supporter of the school district, presented a $3,000 donation to the school district through the Seen and Unseen Hands organization. Those funds will assist reading and writing literacy efforts as needed. Another Killeen resident, Kris Price, donated 320 books, most with a personal touch. Her new literacy program features books written by local students. The books are meant to encourage children. They promote character building and ideals such as setting goals and considering career options. Price said she learned that some students struggle with basic reading skills and she believed her own business skills could come into play to help. view article

Vanessa Brower wants her students to have as many supplies as possible to overcome the stress and trauma that has been brought on by the pandemic.  The GT program teacher at Johnson Elementary (LBJ) in Odessa is looking to accomplish that with a grant that was recently awarded to her.  In late January, Brower was awarded a $2,500 grant from State Farm that she plans on using to make special packs called Scholars in Progress bags for her students to help them out.  The project was supported by the State Farm Teacher Assist grant.  “I just hope that the kids understand that it’s for them and it’s because this is the least I can do as a person and support them and their educational needs,” Brower said. “I care about them and pray for them.” view article

HALLSVILLE — A Hallsville elementary campus’ PTA (Parent Teacher Association) has been awarded a grant from the National PTA’s Healthy Hydration program.  Hallsville North Elementary School’s PTA organization was awarded a $500 grant on Monday by the National PTA’s Healthy Hydration program in order to implement health improvements at the school.  The new grant comes in addition to a $1,000 grant the National PTA awarded to the same North Elementary PTA in the 2019-20 school year to help educate families about the importance water consumption plays in maintaining a healthy lifestyle. view article

Students at a Garland ISD high school have come up with an invention that is now getting national attention. Students at the Gilbreath-Reed Career and Technical Center designed a system to sanitize firefighters’ boots to prevent the spread of communicable diseases. view article

PAINT ROCK, TX – After losing water last week during the winter storm, Paint Rock ISD has announced that students will get back to class on Wednesday thanks to the Ballinger Walmart. Please plan to be back on a normal schedule, with kids, on Wednesday, February 24th, stated Paint Rock ISD in a release. They were planning to come back to school on Thursday, but the water situation has improved and now we have enough bottled water. Busses will run at the regular times. view article

Bowie County is among more than 30 Texas counties added Monday to a list of those whose residents can apply for individual federal disaster relief after last week's winter storms. view article

Del Valle Independent School District (DVISD) is located southeast of Austin, Texas with 86 percent of the student population on free or reduced lunch. The population of Del Valle is just under 30,000 residents and 84 percent of the student population is Hispanic.  DVISD won a 2020 ChessKid Grant for their elementary students that provides more than 1400 students free gold accounts and unlimited access to the ChessKid program.

AMARILLO, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) — Amarillo College has received a grant from the Greater Texas Foundation that will enable educators from AC and Caprock High School to join forces to create a data ecosystem to ensure more students attain postsecondary degrees and credentials. The grant is valued at $181,695. The grant will support AC’s efforts to introduce those same predictive-modeling techniques to its largest feeder high school – Caprock – to create data pipelines necessary to build and maintain seamless pathways from the freshman year of high school through college graduation. view article

GRAHAM, Texas (TNN) - Graham Savings and Loan Bank President Codie Hedge presented a check for $2,500 to Graham ISD on Wednesday. The money was raised through the GISD Debit Card Program. GSL donates five cents to local independent school districts with every transaction. The five cents are no additional cost to you, just a donation made from the bank. view article

HENRIETTA, Texas (TNN) - Howmet Aerospace awarded Henrietta ISD with a STEM grant on Tuesday. Howmet employees Howard McDaris and Harlan Laseman, a Henrietta graduate, helped present the $31,000 award. The superintendent says the money will help expand and fund their STEM program. Accepting the grant on behalf of Henrietta ISD were superintendent Scot Clayton, High School Principal Terry McCutchen and Elementary School Assistant Principal Sarah Scribner. The school district was grateful for the company’s generous support. view article

Port Aransas schools are getting reimbursed for measures they took to get things up and running after Hurricane Harvey. The district on Monday announced it had received a grant for more than $1.2 million Federal Emergency Management Agency to help pay for things such as generators, air dryers, portables and security. Those items and more were needed in the aftermath of the Category 4 storm hit the area Aug. 25, 2017. view article