As children get ready to head back to school, the Alabama Power Foundation is offering a new round of grants designed to help educators improve student performance and prepare young people for college and careers.

Earlier this year, the foundation unveiled its new Scholar and Champion grants for teachers serving communities with higher rates of poverty. The grants can be used to support student achievement in key subjects and provide teachers with resources and professional training.

The first round of grants was awarded earlier this summer. Now, the foundation is launching a second grant cycle to provide resources to more teachers. The new grant cycle opened Aug. 1 and closes Sept. 30.

“We’re excited to offer a new round of Scholar and Champion grants and invite teachers and teacher teams from across the state to apply,” said the foundation’s Margaret White.

“We worked closely with teachers to design these grants – so they provide the kind of support and resources they say they need to help students succeed,” said White, the foundation’s manager for Community Initiatives. “We strongly encourage teachers to apply.”

The Alabama Power Foundation’s Champion Grants are aimed at public school teachers in grades nine through 11, focusing on math and science performance, to prepare high school students for college or careers by graduation time. (Getty Images)

Scholar Grants are tailored to public school teachers in grades two through eight, with a focus on lifting student performance in math and English language arts to grade-level proficiency or better.

Champion Grants, meanwhile, are aimed at public school teachers in grades nine through 11. These grants focus on math and science performance, to prepare high school students for college or careers by graduation time.

Up to $7,500 is available for Scholar or Champion grants. Teachers can apply individually or as collaborative teacher teams, targeting a specific grade level and subject area to raise student achievement. The grants are available to support public schools where at least 50% of the students receive free or reduced-price lunches.

The grants can be used for a wide variety of purposes, including purchasing materials, classroom technology or software, or for professional development and training.

To learn more about Scholar grants, click here. To learn more about Champion grants, click here.

The Alabama Power Foundation is committed to empowering communities, bridging gaps of inequity and improving the quality of life for all Alabamians. Funded by shareholder dollars, the foundation provides philanthropic support to Alabama communities, nonprofits and educational institutions. To learn more about the Alabama Power Foundation and its initiatives, please visit powerofgood.com.