The Orange County Department of Education (OCDE) has opened the application period for the second round of its Innovation Funding Initiative. This program offers up to $525,000 to selected Orange County school districts to develop and implement new approaches aimed at improving student outcomes. Irvine residents whose children attend local public schools will see the impact of these district-level initiatives if local districts are among those selected.
Applications for this second round are being accepted from today, October 7, through December 4, 2026. Following this period, six Orange County school districts will be chosen, with the announcement of award recipients expected around early February. The projects funded through this initiative are slated to run for three years, from July 2027 to June 2030.
The Innovation Funding Initiative supports OCDE’s broader focus on advancing innovation, which is one of five key initiatives outlined in County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Stefan Bean’s 5-3-1 Strategic Plan. The program is specifically designed to provide districts with the necessary resources and support to test, refine, and expand forward-thinking strategies that address unmet educational needs within their communities. Dr. Bean stated that the initiative is an opportunity "to invest in some of those promising ideas."
This new round builds on the success of the initiative’s first cohort, which was announced earlier this year and included six previously funded districts. Officials reported strong interest in the inaugural round, with OCDE receiving a total of 29 applications from 22 Orange County school districts.
The projects funded in the first round encompassed a variety of educational innovations. Examples included collaborative math learning labs, programs where students construct tiny homes for families experiencing homelessness, expanded International Baccalaureate and career pathway offerings, new methods for teacher development, and strategies designed to enhance student engagement and school climate. These diverse projects illustrate the range of ideas the initiative seeks to support.
Eligibility for the second round is open to Orange County school districts that serve students in grades TK-12. Districts are permitted to submit up to two applications for consideration. However, school districts that received funding in the first cohort are not eligible to apply in this current round. Specific entities are excluded from applying, including charter schools, districts located outside Orange County, private schools, colleges and universities, nonprofit or community-based organizations, and other non-educational agencies.
Beyond the direct financial support, selected districts will also receive a comprehensive package of assistance. This includes coaching, technical assistance, and research and evaluation support. These resources are intended to strengthen the implementation of their projects, help measure their impact effectively, and facilitate learning from the work undertaken. OCDE also plans to examine whether successful approaches can be sustained over time, scaled up for broader use, or adapted for application in other educational settings.
Participating districts will also have opportunities for collaborative learning and networking. An Innovation Learning Community will connect districts, allowing them to learn from one another. Additionally, an annual Innovation Summit will bring educators together to share lessons learned, promising practices, and early findings with colleagues from across Orange County. Dr. Janel Alberts, OCDE’s manager of Grants and Funding, highlighted that the initiative is about more than just funding projects; it involves working with districts "as they move from an idea to implementation."
Prospective applicants can access detailed information, including the Request for Applications, application materials, eligibility requirements, and timelines, through the official OCDE resources. Further updates on this second cohort will be provided as the application process progresses and decisions are made.
