Delaware High Schools to Benefit from $400,000 in Grants

by Robert Adams and Jenna Bucsak

Delaware educators and policymakers continue pushing to increase college access, success, and affordability for public school students. It’s led to powerful collaboration between schools, districts, and the state to ensure that graduating students can enroll and thrive in postsecondary education.

Last week the Delaware Department of Education awarded over $400,000 in grants to nine schools and districts to expand this work during the 2016-17 school year. The awarding of the Advanced Placement Incentive and Delaware Goes to College grants–part of the state’s College Access fund—are  two of many strategies the state is using to help drive all students to be prepared to pursue the educational path they choose after high school—including professional certificates, apprenticeships, and two-year and four-year degrees.

The Advanced Placement and Delaware Goes to College grants will expand innovative strategies to increase college readiness and access. The grants will fund existing programs and allow flexibility to start new programs that target underserved student demographics, such as males of color, low-income students, and first-generation college students.

Schools will use the grants in a variety of ways, from offering more challenging course curriculum, to college application and readiness workshops, to financial literacy for students and families.

To complement these plans, many schools will look to enhance their partnerships with higher education institutions and community organizations to allow for more college visits, mentoring activities, and other enrichment opportunities for students.

Students need these meaningful connections and support systems to guide them on the career path of their choice. Consequently, schools have the flexibility to tailor an increasing amount of resources to meet specific needs of students to heighten the potential of their future success.

• Advanced Placement Incentive Grants

Purpose: Districts and schools that were awarded grants will use the funds to tailor programs specific to the needs of their students, including increasing the difficulty of coursework and providing educators with the proper training to teach these advanced courses.

Awards given: Funding was awarded to the following schools and districts: Appoquinimink High School ($56,610), Brandywine School District ($38,100), Capital School District ($35,760), Colonial School District ($39,390), Newark Charter High School, ($23,540), and Milford School District ($16,100).

• “Delaware Goes to College” Grants

Purpose: Schools and districts will use the grant funding to implement programs that will prepare students academically and financially to attend and finish college. Consequently, their success in postsecondary education and training will qualify them for the skilled career path of their choosing.

Awards given: Districts will take many different approaches to prepare students for postsecondary education and training beyond high school, including:

• George’s Technical High School ($60,950): Providing services and targeted support to first-generation college going students, males of color and/or students from low-income households, while enhancing college access and success supports for all students.
• Middletown High School ($60,060): Extending programs district-wide to increase the number of college visits, mentoring initiatives, and dual enrollment opportunities and expanding workshops to increase parent awareness, advocacy and financial literacy.
• Indian River School District ($30,880) Enhancing school counselor professional development, middle school training programs and strategic partnerships with community organizations to assist in the transition from middle school through to college to career.

• Colonial School District ($52,000): Expanding middle school and high school programs to prepare students college and career readiness before, during, and beyond high school.

The grants will combine with a number of others initiatives underway to help schools and districts. In November 2015, Governor Jack Markell and DDOE announced $600,000 in grants given to districts for new high school pathways programs which will expand statewide efforts to prepare students for job opportunities in the new economy.

In addition to supporting efforts at the district level, significant strides are also being made at the state level to support this work. Earlier this month, the state announced a $250,000 grant to help decrease the number the students who will need English remediation when they get to college, and increase the number of students who can take college-level courses while still in high school. In addition, a number of developments have accelerated the work of Delaware Pathways, including a $100,000 planning grant to develop career readiness actions plans awarded in March. Continued partnership between the state, districts, school, and community organizations will continue to encourage successes from graduating high school, enrolling in college, and beyond.