August 9, 2012 (YARMOUTH) _ Governor Deval Patrick says nearly $600,000 in grant funding is available to "innovation" public schools working on new programs to close the state's educational achievement gap.

He says the money will help 20 "innovation" schools develop creative education approaches to raise student achievement. 

Local schools getting $25,000 each include the Ezra Baker and Wixon Middle Schools in the Dennis-Yarmouth district and the Cape Cod Tech STEM Academy.

The schools have greater autonomy and flexibility than regular public schools.