The Polk Education Foundation, along with many other education foundations in the state, receives funding through the School District Education Foundation Matching Grant Program, funded by the Florida Legislature and administered by the Consortium of Florida Education Foundations.
A unique aspect of this program is that the funds must be matched dollar for dollar with private sector funding.One of the ways the PEF uses our funding is to offer a grant program to schools where by they can offer a match to local donors in the areas of helping low performing students, increasing literacy, promoting STEM education, increasing graduation rates, and providing teacher professional development.This school year, the matching grant program helped 20 sites secure donations from the community. Blake Academy, Harrison, Janie Howard Wilson, Bartow Middle, Bok Academy, Lake Alfred Elementary, Bethune Academy, North Lakeland Elementary*, Kingsford Elementary*, Auburndale Central Elementary*, Purcell Elementary*, Padgett Elementary*, Alta Vista Elementary*, Lake Shipp Elementary*, Roosevelt Academy, Union Academy, Lake Alfred Addair Middle, the PCSB ESOL Department, Winter Haven High School, and Jewett Middle Academy all secured donations from their local community that were matched dollar for dollar, a win-win situation for all!
* Notates schools that utilized funds from the United Way of Central Florida for their match.Pictures here represent the hundreds of books that were purchased to be used in the Reading Pals program which provides adults who read to students and allows students to take books home.For many students, this will be the first book they have ever called their own!
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