Academic Decathlon
GLAEF Initiatives
GLAEF's initiatives are designed to ensure that our students, schools, and communities have the resources they need to thrive.
Teachers of the Year Equitable Innovation Grant Program
Since 2021, GLAEF has invested over $200,000 in grants for educator-led innovation, and solutions designed to meet the needs of diverse learners. GLAEF believes in supporting educators, who are on the front lines of addressing issues such as learning loss from the pandemic, social-emotional wellbeing, and teacher retention. The Equitable Innovation Grant program allows educators the flexibility and freedom to decide what their school community needs to succeed and thrive. Grants between $1,000 and $3,000 are awarded directly to educators to put their ideas into action.
Diverse Educator Workforce
By 2025, districts will need to provide transitional kindergarten options for all four-year-old. The time to recruit, prepare, and support early childhood educators who will teach our youngest multilingual students is now. With support from the Emerging Bilingual Collaborative and in partnership with the English Learner Workforce Investment Initiative (EL-WIN), GLAEF is facilitating free technical assistance, including resource sharing and dedicated grant writing, to help districts unlock state funding. This partnership has produced a toolkit of sample materials that draw on best practices for multilingual learners, early childhood systems, and other areas that districts can use to develop their UPK state plan and apply for related state funding.
Artificial Intelligence and Education Technology in Schools
GLAEF and LACOE are working with partners to conduct formative needs assessments on the use of generative AI tools, products and partners in LA County's schools. This information will inform the strategy for LACOE’s newly launched AI Taskforce and, and the guidance and support for local districts, and county offices of education across California. LACOE and GLAEF are also working with partners including the University of Southern California to bridge the gap between educators and technology solutions – aligning transformational technology solutions with school site needs, evaluating implementation and supporting iteration and scale for what works.