January 01, 1900

Best Buy Te@ch Program awards more than $3.5 million to K-12 schools

The Best Buy Children's Foundation recently announced its 2006 Best Buy Te@ch Award winners. Fifty-four New York schools from Long Island to Buffalo will receive such awards this year. The grant program supports schools that create interactive, fun learning experiences for students by integrating technology into their classrooms.

Each year the Foundation awards $3.5 million to schools nationwide. Since launching this award program in 2003, Best Buy has awarded over $9.5 million to more than 3,500 K-12 schools across the U.S. Schools may use their award to purchase electronics technology at Best Buy to expand or enhance educational experiences in classrooms. Twelve hundred schools will receive Te@ch Awards in the amount of $2,500 and based on the strength of the application thirty-six Te@ch Award winners will receive $15,000 spending accounts in addition to the $2,500 award. Each school district that has a $15,000 Te@ch Award recipient will be eligible for national award consideration. The school district that displays the greatest creativity in integrating technology to effectively engage their students and positively impact their ability to learn will be awarded $250,000.

K-12 schools must be located within 50 miles of a Best Buy store to be eligible. Best Buy accepts applications from teachers and schools from July through September. Applications for 2007 must be completed and submitted electronically by September 30, 2006. Awards will be announced on February 19, 2007. For more information go to www.bestbuy.com/teach

MEQ/sds/58876/Cwa 1141