Today at the National Education Computing Conference, Microsoft Corp. announced 11 grant recipients that will share more than $5 million over the next four years to further develop groundbreaking programs that have a track record of helping students and teachers create the 21st-century learning environment necessary in today’s knowledge economy. The grants are part of Microsoft’s U.S. Partners in Learning initiative, the U.S. branch of the company’s global effort to help individuals, communities and nations develop and grow programs that enable access to technology tools, and foster technology skills and innovation. The winners announced today include organizations focused on initiatives for teacher retention and professional development, experiential learning, and student-developed software and online games.

“Over the years, business and education leaders like us have witnessed countless effective education programs often lacking the essential mechanisms to spread the program to other entities battling similar challenges,” said Tom Carroll, president of the National Commission on Teaching and America’s Future, one of the 11 organizations to receive a grant. “The Midtier grants are incredibly valuable because they are designed to focus on this particular gap in understanding, study it through specific projects, document new insights, and share the gleaned ingredients with others. We are thrilled to be selected.”

In addition to the 11 grantees, Microsoft announced collaborative efforts with James Madison University (JMU) and the United Nations Association of the United States of America (UNA-USA). The overall objective of the JMU project will be to implement a rigorous and self-sustaining program of performance certification relative to the National Educational Technology Standards for Teachers (NETS*T) among pre-K–12 teachers across Virginia. The joint effort with UNA-USA will launch a cutting-edge, interactive Web site for the organization’s groundbreaking Global Classrooms program, which brings the Model United Nations experience to urban U.S. public schools.