The Frederick School Enrichment Foundation has awarded $25,000 to the Frederick Public Schools for programs and equipment that will enhance education for students in the 2011-12 school year.

The foundation funding is being used for the following purposes:

$5,000 is to be used for the Artist in Residence Program, which brings visiting artists into Frederick classrooms to provide real-life, hands-on experiences and training for Frederick students. The artists work at all levels of the Frederick schools in various visual and performing arts.

The largest block of Frederick School Enrichment Foundation funding, $20,000, is divided equally between Frederick elementary and secondary programs to provide technology in classrooms.

At Frederick Middle School and High School, the funds are being used for purchase of dual boards for math and English classrooms, and for clicker systems that allow students to respond to teacher questions electronically. The electronic clickers allow teachers to instantly poll student responses, assess student understanding of lessons, provide student feedback, and give quizzes and exams.

In elementary programs at Frederick Elementary School and Prather Brown Elementary, the Foundation funding will purchase computer tablets, netbooks, and clicker systems.

The Frederick School Enrichment Foundation is a non-profit organization that works to provide funding to enrich or supplement instruction in the Frederick Public Schools. It is not a part of the Frederick Public Schools, but raises money for projects that enhance the educational opportunities for students in Frederick’s public schools.

Funding for projects is generated by interest from Foundation investments and from contributions to the Foundation. These contributions include memorial donations given in honor of deceased individuals and living tribute donations that honor living individuals.

The Foundation is guided by trustees and board members from the Frederick community.

Members of the Frederick School Enrichment Foundation Board are Loyd Benson (chair), Brad Benson, Mark Bobo, Felicia Crawford, John Hester, Homer Ryan, Joe Wynn, and Frederick superintendent Tony O’Brien.

Contributions to the Frederick School Enrichment Foundation are tax-deductible and may be given at the Benson Law Firm, 9th and Floral in Frederick, or mailed to P.O. Box 486, Frederick, OK 73542.