Smith Announces Education Grants
Washington,
Oct 1, 2003 -
Congressman Adam Smith (D-Tacoma) is pleased to announce today two grants totaling more than $1.9 million for Washington state schools.
The Puyallup School District has been selected to receive over $1.4 million in funding under the Smaller Learning Communities Program for a period of three years. Clover Park High School also received funding under the SLCP in the amount of $500,000. The SLCP's goal is to support academic achievement through awarding competitive grants on behalf of large public high schools for the planning and implementation or expansion of small, safe, and successful learning environments in those schools.
Facing an exploding school population, the Puyallup School District won funding for their new program “Three New R’s for Puyallup” which represents a collaboration project of three large high schools in the Puyallup School District. The centerpiece of the plan is a three-year advisory program. Groups of approximately 22 students in the same grade level will meet together regularly, sometimes for extended periods of time, with one teacher-advisor and a group of peers.
With a very diverse student population, Clover Park High School won funding to engage in a significant restructuring of its learning environment into smaller learning communities and it is in the process of changing all aspects of its structure, operations, support services, and how the staff works and learns together.
“Public education is one of the most important services that a society can provide to its citizens,” Smith said. “I congratulate the Puyallup School District and Clover Park High School on their grants and I applaud their innovation in coming up with solutions to the ever-challenging environment in public schools today.”
