2026-27 Innovation Grant - South Carolina

South Carolina State Funding

All South Carolina school districts are eligible to apply.
South Carolina schools, nonprofit entities, and for-profit entities are eligible to apply.
Public school districts and schools with high poverty and low achievement receive priority for grants.

Support innovative pilot initiatives in public school districts and schools.
Raise student achievement and ensure all students are prepared to graduate college, career, and civic ready.
Innovative strategies to close student achievement gaps in reading and mathematics, with a focus on schools with below-average and unsatisfactory academic achievement ratings.
Prioritize projects grounded in evidence-based practices that have significantly impacted student achievement outcomes.
Build replicable and scalable projects grounded in evidence-based practices.

Instructional materials, supplies, and resources that support an innovation application.
STEM/STEAM resources that help students build knowledge, apply learning, and demonstrate measurable academic growth.
Technology-connected learning materials that support applied learning, workforce readiness, and College, Career, and Military readiness.
Professional learning or purchased services that strengthen educator implementation of the proposed initiative.
Program implementation costs connected to the project plan, measurable benchmarks, and budget narrative.
Costs must connect directly to the proposed innovation project, measurable benchmarks, implementation plan, and budget narrative.

LEGO® Education Science aligns with the grant’s focus on student achievement by supporting hands-on science learning, student investigation, collaboration, and evidence-based reasoning connected to measurable outcomes.
LEGO® Education Computer Science & AI aligns with the grant’s focus on innovative pilot initiatives by supporting computer science, AI literacy, problem-solving, critical thinking, and career-connected skill development.
LEGO® Education Professional Development aligns with the grant’s implementation expectations by helping educators build capacity to implement the proposed instructional model with fidelity and support replication or scaling.

Applications are evaluated on demonstrated ability to implement the initiative or model, and the ability to be replicable and scalable.
Applications are evaluated on the identification of key measurable benchmarks to raise student achievement and ensure students graduate college, career, and civic ready.

We can support your application with a custom quote specific to your project’s budget narrative.
The 2026–27 fiscal year funding proviso has not been finalized, and SCDE states the application package may be withdrawn and reannounced depending on the adopted proviso.
SCDE lists Phillip Cease as the contact for technical assistance at phcease@ed.sc.gov.
Priority is given to proposals from high-poverty, low-performing schools
Remember to emphasize how your solution can be scaled or replicated
Highlight measurable outcomes and long-term student impact

2026–27 Innovation Grant