Bright Minds Foundation
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Mission Statement
As the Howard County Public Schools education foundation, Bright Minds Foundation works to ensure each child attending Howard County Public Schools has access to the support, resources, and opportunities they need to succeed at school and in life. We bring together community support to improve educational outcomes and address critical resource and opportunity gaps faced by students and educators.
About This Cause
Bright Minds supports students and educators in four key areas: Resources that Remove Barriers to Learning - Bright Minds works to bridge the digital divide and improve student access to tools needed to succeed in school and prepare for college and careers. In the last year, we distributed 6,444 Chromebooks to high need families, and upgraded career and technical education tools to prepare students for future jobs. We provided emergency family stabilization support to students experiencing homelessness to prevent educational disruption as families pursue comprehensive community support. Early Childhood Literacy - Bright Minds is the County affiliate for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. Read With Me sends children monthly books from birth through age five to inspire joy of reading, while building pre-literacy skills, and preparing children for preschool and kindergarten. While all children residing in Howard County are eligible, we work with community partners to target children aged 0-3 in households that are low-income, have English learners, and are at risk of educational delays. More than 4,000 children have received 80,894 books so far. Teacher and Classroom Support - Bright Minds Classroom Grants help educators deliver instructional projects that respond to unique and pressing needs of students, enrich teaching practices, strengthen school communities, and pilot innovative projects. HCPSS staff and teachers are invited to apply annually. Recent grants have focused on support for student achievement, mental health, educational engagement. Since 2009, Bright Minds has awarded $247,046 in grants to 173 educators in all County schools. College Access - Bright Minds administers memorial and honorary scholarships that make post-secondary education more accessible. 27 students received $52,000 in scholarships last year. While each scholarship has unique eligibility, we work to ensure scholarships benefit a diverse range of students across the County.