Southern California Teachers Benefit from Grant

PreK-12 educators will be awarded $1 million in grants and scholarships through the 2008 A+ for Energy program, which recognizes innovative energy education programs in the classroom. Awardees will receive a cash grant of $5,000 or $10,000 to implement their program, a full scholarship to attend a three-day Energy Educator Training Conference, and a Science of Energy kit and other classroom materials valued at $500.

BP, a global energy provider, sponsors this unique program, which provides teachers with the resources and tools required to deliver creative projects that excite and educate students about energy and energy conservation. 2008 A+ for Energy winners will join the ranks of nearly 7,000 California area teachers that have been awarded $7 million since 2004.

The A+ for Energy program is available to any preK-12 classroom teacher in an accredited or licensed public or private school within the Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Riverside, Orange, San Diego and Kern county areas. Winners are recognized for developing creative and student-focused classroom, after-school, extra-curricular, or summer programs. While these programs must be centered on energy or energy conservation, they can move beyond science to incorporate reading, mathematics, history, geography, the arts, and more.

Applications for the 2008 program have been mailed to all eligible schools. Interested teachers can also find out more about the program by visiting the A+ for Energy website at http://www.aplusforenergy.org/. In addition to the online application, teachers will find valuable resources at the site, including a grant writing tutorial and links to interactive energy education tools and downloadable materials for classrooms. Applications must be postmarked or submitted online by March 7, 2008. Winners will be notified on May 12, 2008.