Quick look: OCDE’s Innovative Funding Initiative will help Orange County school districts scale up bold new ideas that address unmet needs and improve student outcomes. Districts can apply for awards of up to $525,000 to fund three-year projects, with the first recipients expected to be announced in early 2026.
The Orange County Department of Education is looking to invest in educational innovations and fresh approaches to addressing the needs of students with the potential to elevate engagement and achievement across the county.
As part of its 5-3-1 Strategic Plan, OCDE is getting ready to launch the Innovation Funding Initiative to fuel ideas that address unmet needs in education, improve efficiency and strengthen student outcomes. Projects may introduce entirely new strategies or apply existing approaches in novel ways, with an emphasis on sustainable, scalable change that can be replicated across Orange County schools.
Here’s how it will work: Orange County districts will be able to apply for awards of up to $525,000 to support three-year projects. Up to six districts are expected to be selected in the first round. Applications will be released on Dec. 3 and are due by Jan. 30. Funded projects will begin in July 2026 and run through June 2029.
OCDE’s Innovation Funding Initiative
- Awards of up to $525,000 to support three-year projects
- Five to six districts will be selected in the first round
- Applications released: Dec. 3, 2025
- Applications due: Jan. 30, 2026
- Project period: July 2026 through June 2029
“This initiative is about creating the conditions for bold ideas to take root and flourish,” said County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Stefan Bean.
Any Orange County school district — or consortium of districts in the county — will be eligible to apply. In addition to direct funding, award recipients will join a professional network of educators who will collaborate, share insights and highlight practices that can inform future innovations across the county.
“We know that many of our schools are already pursuing novel strategies to deepen student engagement, expand real-world learning and strengthen outcomes,” Bean said. “The Innovation Funding Initiative will provide the support and recognition to help those ideas grow, and just as importantly, it will create opportunities for districts to learn from one another and carry forward models that work.”
Districts can expect to hear more information soon at ocde.us/InnovationFunding. For more information, contact grantsandfunding@ocde.us.