CLEVELAND — Leaders in the Cleveland Metropolitan School District are making good on their promise to bring back a popular grant funding program, announcing Monday morning the district is relaunching the "Get More Opportunities Fund."
The program was originally established under former CMSD CEO Eric Gordon, after billionaire philanthropist MacKenzie Scott gifted the district $20 million in 2022.
"The community said, 'We want this program back,' but I wanted to make sure as we brought it back that every scholar had access to these wonderful dollars that we were afforded through MacKenzie Scott," current CMSD CEO Dr. Warren Morgan, who is beginning his second year leading the district, told 3News Monday.
Cleveland schools stopped the program last school year while dealing with a multimillion-dollar budget deficit. After backlash from both the community and Cleveland City Council, the district announced earlier this year that the program would return in a revamped form.
"I always say listening and learning is not a moment, it is a way of leading," Morgan shared. “I was really excited to hear what people wanted with this program and we’re excited to bring it back, but also to learn how we can make it better.”
The biggest change to the program is the remaining funds from Scott's gift will not be centrally controlled anymore. CMSD will now allocate $4 million annually for the next four years to all CMSD schools.
According to the district, each school will get between $30,000 and $55,000 made up of a base allocation and additional funds calculated by enrollment.
"It's giving it to the schools, making sure we have more student voice — not just a select committee, but select students in every school to be a part of this," Morgan added. "I'm so excited because that's what it's about — it's about equity, access, and opportunity."
Proposals for the Get More Opportunities Fund 2.0 will now be submitted to local review committees led by each school principal. Students, parents, and staff will make up the committees.
Funds will be used for enrichment programs for students, upgrades to school facilities, or investments in technology or equipment for students.
"I'm looking for innovative ideas that are going to impact our scholars," Morgan said. "I'm looking for things that still capture student voice and really looking for those ideas that make our district better."
Applications will open on Sept. 23.