Now through September, North Carolina’s 26 electric cooperatives are accepting applications for the Bright Ideas education grant program. More than $600,000 will be awarded to teachers across the state to fund creative classroom projects for the 2013–2014 school year.

“It is an honor to reward the hard work and creativity of Tar Heel teachers who, in turn, will improve education in North Carolina classrooms,” said Lindsey Listrom, Bright Ideas coordinator for North Carolina’s electric cooperatives.

Tar Heel teachers in grades K–12 can receive funding for innovative, classroom-based projects that would not otherwise be funded. Each year, close to 600 grants are funded across the state to teachers in eligible schools in a variety of disciplines, including music, art, history, reading, science, career-planning and information technology.

Since 1994, the Bright Ideas education grant program has reached more than 1.5 million students in North Carolina by awarding more than $8.5 million in grant money to sponsor more than 8,300 projects. Additional information on the program and applications are available online at www.ncbrightideas.com