Museum School Awarded Federal Grant

took two big steps this year.

The charter school .

And it just won a federal Innovation Fund grant created through Georgia's Race to the Top plan.

The school explains why this is so special.

The Museum School is taking its show on the road through a Museum in a Box program that will deliver high-quality, hands-on lesson plans to children at neighboring schools.

The DeKalb County charter school is one of nine winners of federal Innovation Fund grants created through Georgia’s Race to the Top plan. The purpose of the $19.4 million grant program is to promote innovation in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), applied learning and charter schools.

Through this grant, Museum School teachers will work with partners such as Zoo Atlanta, Georgia Tech, ArtsNow, the Atlanta History Center, Fernbank Museum of Natural History and the Georgia Aquarium to create traveling learning trunks. The lessons will align with Georgia’s learning standards and expose students to the curriculum in fresh, fun and accessible ways.

“Our students have benefited so much from the hands-on approach, and we wanted to share it,” said Principal Katherine Kelbaugh. “Funding from this grant will enable us to create the highest quality learning trunks to best replicate The Museum School experience.”

Many schools have had to cut their field-trip budgets. The trunks will enable schools to bring the field trip to their students at no cost. Inside the trunks, teachers will find artifacts, resources, lessons and activities, all engaging and relevant. The learning trunks will first be available to DeKalb County schools and later offered to schools in metro Atlanta and Georgia.

State officials are working out the grant details, including the exact amount The Museum School and other recipients will get.

Located near Avondale Estates, The Museum School is in its third year of operation and serves students in grades K through 5. The school will add a grade each year through eighth grade. Charter schools are free, public schools that operate independently from local and state boards and are held accountable through terms spelled out in a charter.