Aberdeen Among 50 School Districts to Receive OSPI Grant

OLYMPIA, Wash. - Aberdeen School District is among a total of 50 school districts have been selected to receive grants of $4,500 each to help with the implementation of the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) for English language arts and mathematics during spring and summer 2012.
The money will be used for travel and other costs related to participation in standards workshops that are hosted by Educational Service Districts (ESDs) throughout the state.

The grants are funded by Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR-UP!), a federal grant program that helps increase the number of low-income students preparing for college. OSPI partnered with the Washington Higher Education Coordinating Board to provide these resources.

The Office of Superintendant of Public Instruction tells KBKW a total of 75 districts applied for the grants. Priority was given to districts with 49.5 percent or more than of its students qualifying for free and reduced-priced meals and to district size so that districts of all sizes were represented.

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Grant winners will be expected to:

• Designate a District CCSS Implementation Team of four to six individuals to participate in this project.
• Attend spring 2012 Content Trainings (regionally delivered). Each ESD will offer two days of math and one day of English language arts training for district content leaders/facilitators at no cost to participants. The content leaders on the district’s identified CCSS team are expected to participate in these offerings.
• Attend CCSS District Team Workshops (Seattle and Spokane area locations to be determined). Two, two-day workshops in May and August will engage districts teams in learning opportunities to build a foundational understanding of the CCSS, to consider the implications on professional learning for educators, and to provide support in creating district-specific implementation plans and identifying the supports needed at the state, regional, and local levels.
• Provide collaborative time for school faculty throughout spring and summer 2012.
• Agree to serve as a resource for other school districts as they build CCSS transition plans (e.g., be available for phone calls, share district implementation plans).