Empathetic ideas are needed for unprecedented times.

The discordant approach to reopening America’s schools during the COVID-19 pandemic has all but ensured that those students who were already vulnerable will be further left behind. The Student Service Project, an initiative of Forum280, a California-based 501(c)(3) non-profit, seeks to identify, fund, and scale the best ideas from high school students designed to assist their most vulnerable peers during these extraordinary times.

The Student Service Project will provide grants to eligible high school students in support of innovative ideas to better connect students and facilitate better learning during COVID-19. Applications for funding are sought to develop new ideas across three focus areas:

America Engaged:

-Strategies for staying engaged;

-Healthy eating to stay alert;

-Doing good while making a difference;

The Student Service Project will learn from public service-minded students all over the country who are themselves forced to be America’s guinea pigs during a fundamental restructuring of the educational system and social compact. These ideas will educate us all on how best to educate during this pandemic, how to push students towards ideal outcomes, and how best to solve local needs. The Student Service Project will fund pilot programs, then support those efforts that deliver measurable results through infrastructure, humanpower, technology, and further financial support.

Applications are now open until September 30th, 2020, with programs implemented through the first semester of the 2020-2021 school year. At the conclusion, Forum280 will feature the project that has done the best on our site. Only current high school students are eligible to apply. Submission of an application does not guarantee funding. Funding determinations are made at the sole discretion of Forum280.