You can nominate your school to receive a grant of $10,000 or $25,000 to improve math and science proficiency from America’s Farmers Grow Rural Education.

Sponsored by the Monsanto Fund, America’s Farmers Grow Rural Education helps school districts fund science, technology, engineering and mathematics projects that prepare students for an increasingly technology-driven workforce.

Since 2011, Grow Rural Education has awarded over $9 million to more than 650 rural school districts. North Dakoa and South Dakota school districts have received $660,000.

Monsanto funded group offers rural school grants

The grants support a variety of initiatives, including new technology for hands-on learning, greenhouses, outdoor classroom instruction, scientific laboratory advancements and curriculum development. 

In 2014, the Underwood, N.D., school district used a $10,000 grant to purchase data collection kits, probes, a weather station and technology software for its sixth through 12th grade science classes. The students use the equipment to collect and analyze field data for courses covering topics such as conservation, temperature and climate change. The technology is also used in math courses as students analyze and graph data. The new equipment helped create real-world learning experiences for students, and teachers observed more student excitement and engagement while using the equipment.  This excitement has led to higher student enrollment in upper-level math and science courses.

Deadline April 1

Between now and April 1, farmers in eligible counties can nominate a public school district in their community to apply for a $10,000 or a $25,000 grant. Nominated school districts can then submit grant applications through April 15

All school applications are evaluated based on merit, need and community support. The America’s Farmers Grow Rural Education Advisory Council, a group of farmers from across the U.S., will select the winning grant applications. Winners will be announced in August.

Learn more at AmericasFarmers.com.

Source: America’s Farmers Grow Rural Education