SMALL SCHOOL GETS BIG GRANT
Wednesday, February 2nd, 2011 -- 10:21 AM
An area school is getting a big grant from the state Department of Public Instruction.The Granton Elementary School found out this week they were awarded $180,000 as part of the DPI?s Schools of Recognition Grant Program. According to the DPI?s website, the grant provides ?opportunities for schools to create new innovative programs or scale-up successful existing programs? to increase teacher effectiveness, close the achievement gap, increase graduation rates, and address identified local priorities.
"We're going to be awarded that money to start a program called the Granton Community Enrichment Program," explains Title 1/Reading Instructor Becky Volenec.
"The program has three prongs: the first prong is an after school program, the second prong is a parent education program and the third prong is additional staff development for our teachers."
Granton was one of 65 state schools applying for the grant money and one of only 17 to share it. Just to apply, Granton had to be a School of Recognition, which means they have a high poverty rate but also perform well on state tests.
Granton just started an after school program with the help of two Americorps volunteers. The grant will allow them to staff the program with teachers.
"We want to employ teachers to provide direct instruction after school," she explains. "It's more than just homework help. We can provide intervention for strugglers. Hopefully we can start a gifted and talented program as well."
Another program included in the grant is called ?Baby Garden? that will cater to parents of children 0-2 to help with pre-literacy development.
Volenec says they should start rolling out the new programs soon.
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