LEAP INNOVATIONS CEO PHYLLIS LOCKETT: ‘Our overall mission is to bridge what we’re seeing as a big gap between education and innovation to help advance student potential.’

Leap Innovations, a Chicago-based connector of schools and education companies, recently received a $5.1 million grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the organization said.

CEO Phyllis Lockett said the Gates Foundation, a returning supporter, provided the funds to enable Leap to introduce advanced learning technologies in classrooms.

“Our overall mission is to bridge what we’re seeing as a big gap between education and innovation to help advance student potential,” Lockett said. “We really believe that these adaptive technologies that are emerging and are out there can really personalize the learning experience.”

Lockett said half the funding will go toward building out Leap’s internal infrastructure. That includes adding research capabilities. She says she hopes that will help the nonprofit expand its technology pilot programs across Chicago.

After launching in April 2014, Leap this past school year ran free pilots featuring six literacy software programs at 15 Chicago schools. Lockett said she knows of two schools from that group that went on to buy the software for their students.

She said the other half of the grant will support Leap’s ambitions to codify its best practices and disseminate them to other organizations attempting to introduce technology to schools in different cities. Lockett said Leap would not start operations in other cities or place staff elsewhere. Rather, she said, Leap will act as a “convener” of such organizations across the country and offer advice and support.

Recently, Leap said it would add 16 Chicago Public Schools to an existing pool of seven already-enrolled schools that are eligible to receive a piece of a separate $4 million grant funded by the Gates Foundation, The Chicago Public Education Fund, Northern Trust, the Chicago-based Joyce Foundation and Next Generation Learning Challenges.

Lockett said that grant money is for “schools ready to transfer their entire learning models” to use more technology.

Backers have committed $14.45 million in grants and donations to Leap, said Jennifer Cline, the organization’s senior director of marketing and communications.

Also, in August 2014, Leap won a one-year CPS contract worth up to $250,000. Cline said Leap received $65,000 from CPS during the current fiscal year. She said funds that Leap raises through grants and philanthropy subsidize 70 percent of the cost of services that Leap delivers.

The CPS contract is under review for renewal, Cline said.

Leap’s grant news comes as the organization seeks a new board chairman. Mark Furlong resigned the post May 29, days before mayor Rahm Emanuel named him to the Chicago Public Schools board.