Education organization is grant finalist

Cincinnati-based KnowledgeWorks is among 23 finalists competing for a share of a $150 million pot of federal grant money.

If it wins, it will use its share to create two new high schools in South Carolina.

The U.S. Department of Education is awarding a total of $150 million in Investing in Innovation or "i3" grants to education organizations including school districts and non profit organizations.

Applicants' projects must emphasize STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) or other priorities including work that helps rural communities. The 23 finalists were chosen from among 600 applicants for this round of i3 grants which include one $25 million "scale up" grant, five $15 million "validation" grants and 17 $3 million "development" grants.

KnowledgeWorks, if it gets the grant, would transform Scott's Branch High School and Colleton County High School, located in the rural Interstate 95 corridor in South Carolina into New Tech STEM (science technology, engineering and math) schools. The New Tech model focuses on problem-solving and teamwork.