Description
The purpose of the Innovation Grant Program is to support innovative pilot initiatives in public school districts and schools that include the criteria listed in Proviso 1A.56 of H. 4025, the General Appropriations Bill of 2025, 1st Regular Session of the 126th South Carolina General Assembly
Program Office
Office of Governmental Affairs
Eligible Applicants
All South Carolina school districts, South Carolina schools, nonprofit, and for-profit entities are eligible to apply. Public school districts and schools that have high poverty and low achievement will receive priority for grants.
Total Funding Available
Approximately $9,000,000
Funding Detail
Criteria the Innovation Grants Committee will consider includes:
(1) identification of key measurable benchmarks to raise student achievement and ensure all students are prepared to graduate college, career and civic ready;
(2) innovative strategies to close student achievement gaps in reading and mathematics, with a focus on schools with an academic achievement rating of below average and unsatisfactory;
(3) a demonstrated ability to implement the initiative or model as outlined in the application; and
(4) a demonstrated ability to be both replicable and scalable with priority given to projects grounded in evidence-based practices that have significantly impacted student achievement outcomes.
Additionally, public school districts and schools that have high poverty and low achievement will receive priority for grants when their applications are judged to meet the criteria established for the grant program.
Project Term
The maximum grant period is one year, ending on June 30, 2026.
Application Due Date
June 30, 2025
Technical Assistance Session
Contact Phillip Cease for technical assistance.
Documents
Request for Proposals (DOCX, 980kb – 5/30/2025)
Online Application
Budget Narrative Template (XLSX, 22.9kb - 5/30/2025)
Program Web Page
Innovation Grants Committee
