Here are some more details on this from the MakerBot Blog:

We’re proud to announce MakerBot Academy, an educational mission to put a MakerBot® Desktop 3D Printer in every school in the United States of America.
The first MakerBot Academy initiative includes 3D printing bundles for classrooms, an awesome Thingiverse Challenge, and generous support from individuals and organizations.
What You Can Do
1. Get the word out. Tell the teachers you know to register at DonorsChoose.org.
2. Support a school. Contribute to the effort by choosing a teacher; help get them set for the Next Industrial Revolution.
3. Participate in the Thingiverse Challenge. Develop models that teachers can use to improve Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education.
Responding to a Presidential Call to Action
At this year’s State Of The Union address, President Obama announced a new initiative to bring manufacturing jobs back to the US. He affirmed, “3D printing has the potential to revolutionize the way we make almost everything. The next industrial revolution in manufacturing will happen in America.”
We’re inspired by the President’s commitment to keep America at the forefront of the Next Industrial Revolution and we’re eager to do our part to educate the next generation of innovative makers who will keep our economy strong.
Let’s Get MakerBot Desktop 3D Printers into American Schools
Together with America Makes, and by leveraging the crowdfunding power of DonorsChoose.org, we’re launching our first MakerBot Academy initiative: Get thousands of MakerBot® Replicator® 2 Desktop 3D Printers into K-12 public school classrooms across the country — by December 31, 2013!
Help a Public School Teacher Today >

Here’s How We’ll Do It
1. Public School Teachers. Full-time public school teachers can register on DonorsChoose.org and post a project request for a MakerBot Academy bundle, an ideal tool for a relevant STEM curriculum.
2. MakerBot Academy Bundle. Each bundle contains a MakerBot Replicator 2, three spools of MakerBot® PLA Filament, and a full year of the MakerBot MakerCare™ Protection Plan.
3. Generous Support. Parents, community leaders, and organizations: Browse DonorsChoose.org and give any amount to the MakerBot Academy project request that most inspires you. Consider a tax-deductible contribution to help multiple schools in your community – or nationwide!
Add in a Thingiverse Challenge
One of the most requested items by math teachers are math manipulatives—tangible objects that help students develop conceptual understandings of math concepts. So as part of this current MakerBot Academy initiative, we’re launching a Thingiverse design challenge to create math manipulatives for teachers to download and 3D print with their eager students.
Enter the Math Manipulatives Challenge >


POSTED BY KATE HANNUM ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2013 IN THINGIVERSE

To celebrate the launch of MakerBot Academy, we’re kicking off the MakerBot Academy Math Manipulative Challenge on Thingiverse. Math manipulatives are one of the most requested items on DonorsChoose.org. This challenge will allow teachers who receive MakerBot® Replicator® 2 Desktop 3D Printers to immediately print classroom tools after they unbox their new 3D printer.Design your own math manipulative for K-12 students. Click “Enter Challenge” on the Challenge Page and upload your design between November 12th and November 18th for a chance to be a winner. Sets must be tagged #MakerBotAcademyMath to be considered.Bre Pettis, former middle school teacher and MakerBot CEO, will select the First, Second, and Third Prize winners based on the designs’ printability, educational value, and creativity. Winners will receive filament, Thingiverse t-shirts, and have their creations featured on Thingiverse and in the MakerBot Retail Stores. In addition, the First Place winner can send a MakerBot Academy bundle to a classroom of their choice.Find out more details and how to enter, read the Official Rules, and follow the contest here!