Students at Gowan Science Academy in Yuma, Arizona, could soon have an outdoor classroom where they can socially distance, work on messy projects and enjoy the sunshine…

The outdoor classroom, funded in part by a $115,000 grant from A for Arizona, an education nonprofit that supports education reform and innovation around the state, was part of a larger $1.5 million effort by the organization to support25 schools, charter networks, and school districts as they try to keep students engaged and learning during the pandemic.

A for Arizona received the money for the grants from Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey’s Emergency Education Relief Fund, created using money the state received from the CARES Act, the $2 trillion stimulus package Congress passed last March…

The purpose of the grants was to fuel “solutions meeting the current challenges” with a “focus on students hit hardest and areas hit hardest by COVID-19 — and how do we get them an excellent education now and not years from now,” said Emily Anne Gullickson, founder and CEO of A for Arizona. Gullickson and the vetting committee that chose the grant winners were also looking for strong leaders who had clear plans to serve the kids most in need and who were willing to share what they learned with others, she said.

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