A grant from the Federal Magnet School Assistance Program will support innovation and hands-on learning experiences at a high school in Jefferson, Washington.
Cedar Rapids Community School District Educational Leadership and Support Center, 2500 Edgewood Rd NW. (Official Gazette)
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CEDAR RAPIDS — Approximately $15 million in federal grants awarded to Cedar Rapids Community School District will support college and career readiness programs that better prepare graduate students for high-wage, high-skill, high-demand careers. used to.
The district is one of only 12 schools in the nation to be awarded approximately $15 million over the next five years from the U.S. Department of Education’s Magnet School Assistance Program, and the only recipient in Iowa, according to a Wednesday news release. It is.
The district will immediately receive approximately $6.50 of this funding to launch Future Ready College & Career Academy at Washington and Jefferson High Schools next fall. With the funding, the Cedar Rapids district will invest in cutting-edge technology, innovative equipment and hands-on learning experiences that connect students to industry-leading careers, according to a release.
CRSD Superintendent Tawana Grover speaks about the importance of school improvement ahead of a bus tour of local schools in the Cedar Rapids area on Oct. 19, 2023. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)
“This grant will allow us to accelerate partnerships with local businesses and industry to prepare students for active participation in college, the workforce, and the community,” Superintendent Tawana Glover said in a release. We will be able to do that,” he said.
The exact grant amount is $14,999,330.
The 9th grade Freshman Academy will first be established in the 2025-26 school year. For the 2026-27 school year, three career path-specific academies will open for students in grades 10-12.
College and Career Academy is considered magnet programming, which is theme-based learning in public schools. The Cedar Rapids area already has several elementary and middle school magnet programs in themes such as sustainability, science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics (STEAM) and leadership.
“We are proud to expand our magnet program to Washington and Jefferson High Schools, creating a small, career-relevant learning community where students can earn industry-recognized credentials by the time they graduate. “I think so,” said Adam Zimmerman, the school’s executive director of innovation. Cedar Rapids area. “This initiative is not just about preparing students for post-high school, but about preparing them to excel at every step of their career path.”
Kennedy, the district’s third traditional high school, will offer a slightly different version of college and career education, called Pathways. A pathway is a series of three or more courses focused on a specific college and career. Students participating in Pathways can take courses with peers who are interested in a broader range of careers for a more traditional high school experience. The Kennedy Program is not funded through grants.
A portion of the grant will also support professional development to ensure Cedar Rapids school staff are equipped to lead this transformation and inspire the next generation of learners.
Families of students who attend Future Ready College & Career Academies will “witness their children’s growth as they explore exciting career paths and gain valuable skills and certifications,” according to a news release.
Community partners will work with schools to create “meaningful learning experiences” to help shape the next generation of the workforce, according to the release.
“Through rigorous, career-aligned education and opportunities for post-secondary success, we help our students, staff, and communities become brighter and more empowered,” said Jillian Schulte, director of magnet programming for the district. “We are leading the way into the future.”
This is not the first time the Cedar Rapids district has received Magnet School Assistance Program funding. The district received $14.8 million from the 2022 grant program to be distributed over five years.
The grant helped the district establish its first magnet high school, City View Community High School, which will open in fall 2023. The grant also helped fund several projects at the district’s five other magnet schools.
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