A Phoenix education group is looking to award $1.5 million in grants over the next three years to three local organizations in an effort to improve educational outcomes and increase attainment levels.

The Ellis Center for Educational Excellence will award the grants to the New Teacher Project, the Maricopa Community Colleges Foundation and All In Education. The center is a supporting organization of the Arizona Community Foundation.

“Two of our primary goals are to support innovative and data proven education models that help to accelerate access to high quality early childhood and literacy programs as well as increase educational attainment in Arizona. All grantees exemplify a commitment to utilizing education to improve the lives of Arizonans through collaboration and continuous improvement,” said Lorenzo Chavez, executive director of education and scholarships at ACF.

The New Teacher Project will receive $400,000 in grants to support Phoenix Elementary School District in its efforts to improve literacy and increase student success. The funds will help PESD ensure district policies, classroom practices, and family engagement efforts work in conjunction to support student learning outcomes in early literacy.

Maricopa Community Colleges Foundation will be awarded $800,000 over three years for its “Empowered for Student Success: Maricopa College Promise and Student Supports” program. Funds will help to expand the district’s scholarship promise program to the entire college system. Additionally, funds will cover students’ basic needs and ensure they have access to adequate technology.

All In Education will receive $350,000 over three years to support its Cultivating Sustainable Leadership in Education program with a primary goal to train emerging leaders to become paraprofessionals to support early literacy efforts in the Roosevelt Elementary School District.

This partnership grant, which includes Northern Arizona University, will expand efforts to increase early literacy within the district and also will help to expand the Parent Educator Academy where participants learn how educational policies are formed and understand the role politics play in influencing curriculum.

As part of its mission to expand educational opportunities to all students, ACF’s Ellis Center for Educational Excellence will continue to make grants that help prepare the next generation for success.