As students think longingly of summer vacation, many teachers are wondering what the next school year will bring for their classes. Will they be able to afford those projects their students enjoy?

Thanks to the Bright Ideas Grant Program teachers across North Carolina are now using technology such as Smart Board, a variety of special book collections, science kits, math manipulatives – and an assortment of other classroom aids. Each year teachers have new and innovative ideas to help their students learn in these lean times.

South River EMC will award $50,000 for classroom projects and materials. Statewide, cooperatives will fund over $530,000 in grants. Teachers can apply for a maximum grant amount of $2000 from the Cooperative. Teachers must be from a certified K-12 public school.

August 16 is the early bird deadline, and those teachers with online applications completed by this date will be entered to win a $500 Visa card!

If you do not currently have an idea, you have plenty of time, the final deadline for online applications is September 20. Take your time in completing a grant, you can save a return to finish, grants do not have to be completed in one sitting.

Thus far, the Bright Ideas Grant program has funded over $7 million in grants and has touched the lives of over one million North Carolina students.

Now is your time to visit www.ncbrightideas.com and get that great classroom idea out there for others and your students to see! Please remember, grants submitted to South River EMC must be done so online.