ARTICLE
The Consortium of Florida Education Foundations (Consortium) recently awarded Polk Education Foundation $260,845 in matching funds through the School District Education Foundation Matching Grant Program. This investment leveraged several of Polk Education Foundation’s significant private philanthropic donations that were specifically designated for programs that are capable of providing positive academic outcomes. Through these matching funds, contributions from companies, foundations, organizations and individuals are maximized for increased impact on programs that directly support students, teachers, and schools. Free Teacher Market Many students arrive at school without the basic tools they need to succeed. The Free Teacher Market (FTM) ensures teachers in Polk County Public Schools and local charter schools can access classroom materials at no cost. By removing financial barriers, FTM helps retain teachers and support student needs and achievement. Classroom/School Grants The Classroom/School Grants program provides schools funding to address unmet needs and expand student opportunities. Schools submit proposals to enhance STEM instruction, improve literacy, support low-performing students, strengthen instructional practices, and expand career/technical education. Additional funds are designated for the School Matching Funds Grant program, which encourages schools to leverage community contributions with the promise of a dollar-for-dollar match. Teacher to Teacher Connection (T2T) The Teacher to Teacher Connection program elevates classroom instruction for kindergarten through eighth grade by sharing creative instructional activities. Teachers who have developed innovative teaching practices are invited to present at the annual Idea Expo, sharing strategies with their peers. Visiting educators can then apply for funding and implement these best practices in their own classrooms, leaving a memorable, lasting student impact. AmeriCorps Polk Reads AmeriCorps Polk Reads provides targeted, one-on-one reading tutoring to struggling readers in designated public schools. Students participate in three 30-minute tutoring sessions each week, focusing on the five essential components of effective reading instruction: phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary development, reading fluency, and reading comprehension strategies. The goal of this program is to strengthen foundational literacy skills and build student confidence. All projects will be completed during the 2025–26 school year, engaging students and enriching learning experiences. The Consortium has received legislative matching funds which provide a dollar-for-dollar incentive for local education foundations to raise private contributions for eligible projects for more than 20 years. Since the inception of the program, more than $187 million in combined private and state dollars has been provided for local projects that serve students, literacy initiatives, encourage STEM and career/technical education, increase classroom innovation, support teachers, and/or increase graduation rates. The Consortium is the membership organization for Florida’s school district-wide local education foundations. Established in 1987, the Consortium connects individuals, organizations, and financial resources to build the capacity and effectiveness of local education foundations throughout the state in achieving student success. In the last year, the School District Education Foundation Matching Grant Program: • Saw an investment total of $17,574,275 • $7 million in State allocation was matched with over $10 million in private sector investment • Sixty school districts participated, and 109 projects were funded • Participating education foundations serve 99% of Florida’s K-12 public school students. To learn more about the Consortium and the statewide impact of the program, visit https://educationfoundationsfl.org/. Polk Education Foundation is the nonprofit arm of Polk County Public Schools that helps to elevate the educational experience through the power of philanthropy. Student success programs, classroom grants, a free teacher market, tutoring, mentoring, best practice sharing, homeless students & those in need, recognition/reward/retention programs, and scholarships are prime examples of how the Foundation currently helps. There are limitless ways to support students so they may have infinite opportunities. Connect with us: WEBSITE: polkeducationfoundation.org TELEPHONE: 863-534-0519 FACEBOOK: facebook.com/PolkEducationFoundation For More Information Contact: Tracy Porter 863-534-0519 or tracy.porter@polk-fl.net
The Consortium of Florida Education Foundations (Consortium) recently awarded Polk Education Foundation $260,845 in matching funds through the School District Education Foundation Matching Grant Program.
This investment leveraged several of Polk Education Foundation’s significant private philanthropic donations that were specifically designated for programs that are capable of providing positive academic outcomes. Through these matching funds, contributions from companies, foundations, organizations and individuals are maximized for increased impact on programs that directly support students, teachers, and schools.
Free Teacher Market Many students arrive at school without the basic tools they need to succeed. The Free Teacher Market (FTM) ensures teachers in Polk County Public Schools and local charter schools can access classroom materials at no cost. By removing financial barriers, FTM helps retain teachers and support student needs and achievement.
Classroom/School Grants The Classroom/School Grants program provides schools funding to address unmet needs and expand student opportunities. Schools submit proposals to enhance STEM instruction, improve literacy, support low-performing students, strengthen instructional practices, and expand career/technical education. Additional funds are designated for the School Matching Funds Grant program, which encourages schools to leverage community contributions with the promise of a dollar-for-dollar match.
Teacher to Teacher Connection (T2T) The Teacher to Teacher Connection program elevates classroom instruction for kindergarten through eighth grade by sharing creative instructional activities. Teachers who have developed innovative teaching practices are invited to present at the annual Idea Expo, sharing strategies with their peers. Visiting educators can then apply for funding and implement these best practices in their own classrooms, leaving a memorable, lasting student impact. AmeriCorps Polk Reads AmeriCorps Polk Reads provides targeted, one-on-one reading tutoring to struggling readers in designated public schools. Students participate in three 30-minute tutoring sessions each week, focusing on the five essential components of effective reading instruction: phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary development, reading fluency, and reading comprehension strategies. The goal of this program is to strengthen foundational literacy skills and build student confidence.
All projects will be completed during the 2025–26 school year, engaging students and enriching learning experiences.
The Consortium has received legislative matching funds which provide a dollar-for-dollar incentive for local education foundations to raise private contributions for eligible projects for more than 20 years. Since the inception of the program, more than $187 million in combined private and state dollars has been provided for local projects that serve students, literacy initiatives, encourage STEM and career/technical education, increase classroom innovation, support teachers, and/or increase graduation rates. The Consortium is the membership organization for Florida’s school district-wide local education foundations. Established in 1987, the Consortium connects individuals, organizations, and financial resources to build the capacity and effectiveness of local education foundations throughout the state in achieving student success. In the last year, the School District Education Foundation Matching Grant Program:
• Saw an investment total of $17,574,275 • $7 million in State allocation was matched with over $10 million in private sector investment • Sixty school districts participated, and 109 projects were funded • Participating education foundations serve 99% of Florida’s K-12 public school students.
To learn more about the Consortium and the statewide impact of the program, visit https://educationfoundationsfl.org/.
Polk Education Foundation is the nonprofit arm of Polk County Public Schools that helps to elevate the educational experience through the power of philanthropy. Student success programs, classroom grants, a free teacher market, tutoring, mentoring, best practice sharing, homeless students & those in need, recognition/reward/retention programs, and scholarships are prime examples of how the Foundation currently helps. There are limitless ways to support students so they may have infinite opportunities.
Connect with us: WEBSITE: polkeducationfoundation.org TELEPHONE: 863-534-0519 FACEBOOK: facebook.com/PolkEducationFoundation
For More Information Contact: Tracy Porter 863-534-0519 or tracy.porter@polk-fl.net