USAID's EQuALLS Project has implemented a number of initiatives to help improve basic education in Mindanao.
 
Community Incentive Grants
EQuALLS assists communities in the ARMM and Regions 9 and 12 in pursuing their own basic education projects through Community Incentive Grants. Local education groups, such as parent-teacher-community associations (PTCA's) are given assistance to identify their needs and plan for them accordingly. After they are trained in management, grants are then given to these organizations to implement their projects. Around 700 communities will benefit from grants of $1,000.00 each.
 
Book Fairs and Book Shopping Centers
To help teachers choose books and other learning aids they will actively use in their classrooms, EQuALLS organizes book fairs and has converted our book warehouses into book shopping centers for teachers. Teachers are given vouchers that they can use to "purchase" books that they want to bring back to their classrooms. Around 1.8 million books will be distributed by 2011.
 
ICT Training and Resources
To enhance teachers' creativity and productivity in and outside the classroom, EQuALLS has partnered with Microsoft Philippines to train teachers and administrators in Microsoft Office productivity software applications (such as Microsoft Word for preparation of lesson plans, Microsoft Excel for computation and recording of student grades, and Microsoft PowerPoint for preparation of visual aids), and to use Microsoft Encarta electronic encyclopedia as a classroom resource. EQuALLS then provides the teachers (through their district Department of Education office) computers, printers, and software for their use.
 
English Language Camp for Teachers Under the US Peace Corps' Tudlo (Teach) Mindanao Program
These two-week camps are intensive training venues in which native English speakers – US Peace Corps volunteers -- and Filipino graduates of past English Language Camps interact with Mindanao elementary teachers to enhance their English proficiency. Training is done through innovative means, which include composing English comic strips, interpreting picture stories in English, and creating and sharing their own English storybooks. EQuALLS supports the camp with English books that the teacher-campers can use with their enhanced skills to teach their students.
 
Participation in DepED's Yearly Brigada Eskwela
USAID supports the Department of Education yearly in preparing public schools for the school opening in June through staff volunteer work and the provision of small grants to purchase materials to clean and renovate school classrooms, desks and chairs, and surroundings, under the EQuALLS Project. It also mobilizes local government and other stakeholders to support the program.