According to their press release, AT&T has apparently invested more than $100 million in American education programs since 2008. (The press releases indicates that Minneapolis Public Schools and St. Louis Park School District have benefitted from funding.) They are announcing a new (or renewed) initiative that focuses on high school success and college/career readiness for students at-risk of dropping out of high school through a much larger, “socially innovative” approach…

The greatly expanded effort centers on a new, $250 million financial commitment planned over 5 years. AT&T Aspire will build on that commitment by using technology to connect with students in new and more effective ways, such as with interactive gamification, Web-based content and social media. The company will also tap the innovation engine of the AT&T Foundry to look for fresh or atypical approaches to educational obstacles. Finally, AT&T Aspire will capitalize on the power of personal connections in the form of mentoring, internships and other voluntary efforts that involve many of AT&T’s approximately 260,000 employees.

It looks like a great opportunity both built on some solid funding and a base of four years of work in the field.

Between now and April 18, 2012, AT&T is also encouraging Minnesota organizations to submit applications to pre-qualify for funding through the Local High School Impact Initiative Requests for Proposals (RFPs). AT&T is most interested in funding local programs that have strong, evidence-based practices grounded in the What Works Clearinghouse Dropout Prevention: A Practice Guide and data-driven outcomes demonstrated to improve high school graduation rates. More information on the RFP process is available at www.att.com/education-news (click on the “Aspire Local Impact RFP” option).

They are seeing programs that will be ready to go by next September. They are looking to invest $100,000 to $300,000 for 24 months. And here’s a little bit (from the RFP) on the communities that most interest AT&T…

What Makes a Competitive Program: The 2012 Local Impact RFP features an increased focus on metrics with a preference for programs showing results for those served vs. peer groups; and a stronger emphasis on underserved populations. AT&T is most interested in funding local programs that have strong, evidence based practices and data driven outcomes demonstrated to improve high school graduation rates.

The most competitive Local Impact RFP responses will:

• Deliver measurable, proven interventions,
• Contain elements that demonstrate improvements in high school retention, promotion, and graduation rates,
• Demonstrate the capacity to provide data,
• Provide student-level records to assess the impact intervention(s) on student outcomes.

AT&T will give special consideration to organizations that incorporate social innovation in their programs. AT&T also has a keen interest in the disciplines of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) and increasing the number of minority and underrepresented students in these field