INL offers education grants

Idaho teachers can now apply for grants to buy technology, equipment and materials for special projects or to remodel a classroom through two Idaho National Laboratory programs.

The INL Mini Grant and Extreme Classroom Makeover Grants are open to teachers at private and public elementary and secondary schools throughout the state, according to a news release from the INL.

The Mini Grant program provides teachers with up to $1,000 to buy technology or materials for science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) projects. The INL Extreme Classroom Makeover Grants is a $10,000 award that can be used to transform a classroom into a modern learning environment that supports STEM projects.

Applications are at http://go.usa.gov/YX83 and are due Nov. 15, 2012.

Funding for the grants comes from the Battelle Energy Alliance, which operates INL for the U.S. Department of Energy. Since 2006, BEA has committed more than $3 million to support K-12 STEM education in Idaho.