In 1997, Beacon began as a district initiative funded through state and federal grants. Bay District Schools, the U.S. Department of Education, and the Florida Department of Education sponsored the Beacon Learning Center to design and develop high-quality, standards-based resources and professional learning for educators. Beacon received funding to perform the work from the U.S. Department of Education Technology Innovation Challenge Grant (2000–2005), Technology Literacy Challenge Fund (1997–2000), Florida Goals 2000 (1998–99), and several Florida Department of Education grants (2002–2003).
In 2006, Beacon Learning Center (also known as Beacon Educator) became a self-supporting, internet-based enterprise of Bay District Schools. Bay District Schools is a public school district in Panama City, Florida. Facilitators for Beacon are in various states, such as Florida and Georgia, and even overseas in Germany.
Today Beacon Educator takes pride in our continuing efforts to stay abreast of the ever changing and evolving needs of the education community for professional learning.