The St. Louis-based Innovative Technology Education Fund’s (ITEF) 2016 grant cycle has opened, and schools and teachers in 12 counties across Missouri and Illinois can now submit applications to receive grants to advance innovation and technology in their classrooms.Warren County is one of the eligible counties.In 2015, ITEF awarded more than $360,000 to seven area schools, with grants averaging more than $51,000 each.“Today’s students are preparing for a future that will be even more technology-filled than we can yet imagine,” said ITEF Executive Director Charmaine Smith. “We are extremely pleased to provide grants that allow teachers in our region to find new ways to incorporate technology and innovative learning spaces into their schools and classrooms.”Since 2008, ITEF has provided in excess of $2 million in grants to area schools, allowing them to transform libraries into makerspaces, introduce robotics and animation to elementary art students, and put computers with advanced software in the hands of middle-school students.Applications for the 2016 grants will be accepted through Jan. 31, 2016. Project proposals may support single-grade classrooms, multiple grade levels, entire schools, or collaborations with a nonprofit partner serving students and/or classroom educators. Grants must be used in charter schools and accredited K-12 public, private or parochial schools.For more information, visit innovteched.com.ITEF