In January, K12, INC. announced the launch of The Foundation for Blended and Online Learning (FBOL). The Foundation is an independent, charitable education organization created to improve the national education landscape for all children and educators. The mission of the Foundation is to advance the availability and quality of blended and online learning opportunities and outcomes across all types of schools.

The Foundation was excited to announce a couple of months ago the first set of post-secondary scholarships was awarded at the National Press Club to 31 students from 21 different states. They were awarded scholarships of either $10,000 or $5,000. The recipients included students from virtual, blended and brick and mortar schools.

The Foundation, also focuses on supporting innovative teachers. Providing them with a platform to help shape the world of blended and online schools. So, FBOL launched the Teacher Grant Program. FBOL had seventy applications from 33 states submitted. These grants are up to $10,000, and recipients of the grant were announced in September.

Another critical element FBOL believes will advance the industry is the need for quality, independent studies and analysis. The Foundation thinks there needs to be an open and objective dialog about the positives and negatives of blended and online schools. Thus, the Foundation’s first industry-wide research study focuses on gathering qualitative data and information on the benefits and advantages of blended and online learning for all children in all learning environments. Initial findings will be released this fall and were presented at the iNACOL conference in San Antonio in October.

Learn more about the foundation’s annual Student Scholarship Program and when the 2018 applications will be open here.

Applications for the Learning Innovative Educator Grant Program will open in April of 2018. Apply Here!