SOMERSET, Colo., Aug. 8, 2011 -- The Arch Coal Foundation will again offer Delta County teachers $10,000 in grants as a part of its Innovative Teaching Grants Program, according to Jim Miller, general manager of Mountain Coal Company's West Elk mine near Somerset.

Miller said the program, which will begin its fifth year in the coming school year, challenges local teachers to test new, innovative technologies, approaches to learning or theories they are developing to increase student learning. Delta County teachers will receive application materials through email.

"The Foundation and I appreciate the idea-generation of our local teachers," said Miller. "It is apparent that they have combined their experience, professionalism and imagination to bring about new learning opportunities for their students. In the past school year, one of the grants helped a student team win a national competition. Clearly, the grants are being used as we envisioned -- and our children are the beneficiaries."

Some of the past four years' projects are available for review on the Arch Coal website at http://www.archcoal.com/community/teachinggrants.aspx.

"By putting these outstanding projects on the Web, we can share them with teachers across the globe," said Miller.

Arch Coal's Mountain Coal Company and its West Elk mine are located in Somerset, Colo. About 350 people are employed at West Elk. Arch Coal, Inc. (NYSE:ACI) is a top five global coal producer and marketer. Arch is the most diversified American coal company, with mining complexes across every major U.S. coal supply basin. Its core business is supplying cleaner-burning, low-sulfur thermal and metallurgical coal to power generators and steel manufacturers on four continents.