PRESS CONFERENCE CALL WITH SECRETARY DUNCAN SET FOR 1 P.M. FRIDAY ON $650 MILLION INVESTING IN INNOVATION (i3) GRANTS

U.S. Department of Education

Office of Communications & Outreach, Press Office
400 Maryland Ave., S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20202

MEDIA ADVISORY
EVENT DATE: 1 p.m. ET Friday, Aug. 6, 2010

Contact: Public Affairs
(202) 401-1576 or press@ed.gov

PRESS CONFERENCE CALL WITH SECRETARY DUNCAN SET FOR 1 P.M. FRIDAY ON $650 MILLION INVESTING IN INNOVATION (i3) GRANTS

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan will hold a press conference call with reporters at 1 p.m. ET Friday to discuss the $650 million in grants that the Education Department is awarding through the Investing in Innovation (i3) program.

A cross-section of 49 school districts, nonprofit education organizations and institutions of higher education have been selected from among nearly 1,700 applicants for potential funding under the i3 project. To receive a share of the $650 million, the winning applicants must secure a commitment for a 20 percent private sector match by Sept. 8.

The i3 fund, part of the historic $10 billion investment in school reform in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), will support local efforts to start or expand research-based innovative programs that help close the achievement gap and improve outcomes for high-need students.

WHO: U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan
WHAT: Press conference call on winning i3 applicants

DIAL-IN: 888-790-3152
Passcode: "innovation"

WHEN: 1 p.m. Eastern time Friday, Aug. 6, 2010

ON THE WEB: http://www.ed.gov/news/press-releases/nations-boldest-education-reform-plans-receive-federal-innovation-grants-once-pr