Park City schools awarded $245K in PCEF Classroom Grants for 2025-26

PARK CITY, Utah — Students across the Park City School District will begin the 2025-26 academic year with a boost, thanks to $245,000 in classroom grant funding awarded through the Park City Education Foundation.

Raised entirely through the foundation’s annual “Running with Ed” fundraiser, the classroom grants will fund a wide range of educator-driven programs designed to benefit every student in the district. Proceeds from the community event go directly into classrooms, with 100% of donations supporting educational initiatives.

“The Park City Education Foundation (PCEF) is thrilled to continue its support of the Classroom Grants initiative, which provides funding directly to classroom teachers for opportunities to utilize new teaching tools, attend professional development, or support innovative approaches to their instruction,” said PCEF President Ingrid Whitley. “We are honored to fund programs such as debate at Park City High School (PCHS), the RC League at all elementary schools, and Latinos in Action at Ecker Hill Middle School and PCHS, among others, through these grants.”

All six schools in the district will receive funding:

At Park City High School, programs include flight simulation equipment for the Aviation Pathway Program, music support through “Help Us Make Music!” and Music Professionals in the Classroom, resources for Latinos in Action (LIA), mobile language labs and classroom libraries, support for the Speech & Debate team, funding for the fall musical, Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS), and Special Education.

The Park City Learning Center will receive funding for its student-run Learning Center Store and Special Education services.

At Ecker Hill Middle School, grant-funded programs include the Garden Club, music initiatives, LIA, motivation and support through the Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS), PBIS, and Special Education.

Elementary schools across the district will see support for a variety of programs:

• After School Spanish Club at McPolin Elementary

• Conscious Discipline Implementation Phase 2 at Parley’s Park

• Math and French fluency games at Trailside

• PBIS and Special Education programs at all four elementary campuses—Jeremy Ranch, McPolin, Parley’s Park, and Trailside

• The McPolin musical production of Finding Nemo

• A districtwide RC Race and Engineering League

The grants were awarded through a participatory process. A 14-member committee, including 10 educators, one parent and community representative, and three Park City High School students, reviewed applications. All schools had representation in the final decision-making.

PCEF Classroom Grants are part of a broader effort to empower educators and enrich student learning through community support and investment.