The Hillsborough County school district is in line for a grant that could top $100 million and fund a program school officials hope would ensure almost every student in America graduates from high school.
Hillsborough is one of five nationwide finalists for grants from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Winners will be announced in mid-November. The other finalists include Pittsburgh; Memphis, Tenn.; Omaha, Neb.; and a group of charter schools in Los Angeles.
"We believe we have it," Hillsborough schools Superintendent MaryEllen Elia said last week.
If so, it would be "the largest grant ever given to a public school district," she said.
The district signed off last week on a memorandum of understanding with the Seattle-based foundation -- the last step before final confirmation, Elia said. Foundation spokesman Chris Williams said it is possible all five finalists will receive money from the Empowering Effective Teachers grant, but award amounts have not been set.
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