Positive Outcomes Charter School receives $10,000 to train educators and parents “to support LGBTQ+ students”

In 2022, the “It Gets Better Project” allowed schools to “apply for up to $10,000 in grant funding to support school-based projects empowering LGBTQ+ students.” The project was called “50 States. 50 Grants. 5000 Voices.” The organization specifically pointed out that “grant funding” even went to schools in “traditionally conservative areas.” The Positive Outcomes Charter School is a school that applied for a grant and received a full $10,000. The “It Gets Better Project” stated:

We are so excited to finally be able to announce all of the grant recipients, with each school receiving the full $10,000 in funding. Fifty grants are being awarded in 40 states plus Washington D.C., including many traditionally conservative areas. Submissions were received from a wide range of small rural towns, average-sized suburbs, and large urban cities.

The organization claimed that these grants were made available to schools thanks to the “generous support of American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. (AEO) through American Eagle and Aerie customer donations from all 50 states via their Real Rewards loyalty program, as well as in-store pin-pad promotion during Pride Month 2021.” In reference to the Positive Outcomes Charter School, the “It Gets Better Project” explained how the grant money will be used: “The school will host a virtual conference for educators, students, and parents to support LGBTQ+ students.“

The “It Gets Better Project” is an organization that promotes LGBTQ issues to children. The organization states that its mission is “to uplift, empower, and connect lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) youth around the globe.” This includes through “storytelling and media.” The organization explains: “We work in all forms of media to bring messages of hope to LGBTQ+ youth, spark conversations about the challenges they confront, and inform and positively influence their sexual orientation and gender identity journey.”

The Positive Outcomes Charter School’s website explains that the school “was founded in 1996 and provides educational opportunities for students who have experienced academic difficulty in a traditional school setting.” The school’s website continues to explain that “all of our graduates made progress and were able to salvage educational careers which had begun badly.”

Despite receiving $10,000 to host a virtual LGBTQ conference, the Positive Outcomes Charter School’s website does not appear to reference any LGBTQ policies, events, or material for parents to see. Many parents may not know about a virtual LGBTQ conference taking place at all.