September 14, 2009
Contact: Connie Gillette or Elaine Kanellis
Voice: (703) 588-3272 or (703) 588-3265
Email: connie.gillette@hq.dodea.edu
elaine.kanellis@hq.dodea.edu
ARLINGTON, VA —The Department of Defense Education Activity Educational Partnership awarded a $608,000 grant to the Comal Independent School District (ISD) in New Braunfels, Texas through the Promoting Student Achievement at Schools Impacted by Military Force Structure Changes FY 09 Competitive Grant Program. The School District serves students of military families stationed at Randolph Air Force Base.
"We’re excited about the educational opportunities this sizable grant will provide to the students in the Comal Independent School District," said Col. Jacqueline Van Ovost, commander of the 12th Flying Training Wing at Randolph AFB. "It will give the District the ability to enhance their excellent curriculum and reach more students with their programs."
The grants focus on enhancing student learning opportunities, student achievement, and educator professional development at military-connected schools with projected military student growth between 2007 and 2009 due to force structure changes. This data is based on a Report to Congress on Assistance to Local Educational Agencies for Defense Dependents Education published in March 2008. School districts serving 22 military installations identified through that report were invited to submit a grant proposal.
"We are very excited and thankful for this opportunity to enhance educational programs and support for our students at Bill Brown Elementary School and Smithson Valley High School," said Comal ISD Executive Director of Special Programs.
"In addition to enabling us to provide quality learning opportunities for students, this grant will assist in preparing teachers as they meet the challenge of educating 21st century learners in an increasingly mobile society."
The "Ensuring Academic Success in a Mobile Society" grant submitted by Comal ISD targets the campuses of Bill Brown Elementary School and Smithson Valley High School, each with over 15% military connected students. The grant will fund initiatives for under-served students and students of mobility who are at risk of academic failure.
"This is the first year DoDEA has been able to execute our grant program and it’s very gratifying to be able to offer assistance to the schools that are educating our military’s children." said Dr. Shirley Miles, Director of DoDEA. "We are looking forward to seeing how the districts implement the programs they’ve developed. We know that all children in the grant recipient districts will benefit from these awards."
DoDEA's aim is to enhance the education of military students, but funds may be used to raise student achievement for all students.
In FY 2007, the John Warner National Defense Authorization Act allowed DoDEA to expand its reach to the approximately 92% of military students that do not attend DoDEA Schools. Through collaboration with the Department of Education, DoDEA is working to ease the transition of military students and providing resources to Local Education Agencies (LEAs) who educate military dependent students.
DoDEA consists of the Department of Defense Dependents Schools located overseas, and the Department of Defense Domestic Dependent Elementary and Secondary Schools located in the U.S. and its territories and possessions. DoDEA provides education to eligible DoD military and civilian dependents from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade. DoDEA also provides support and resources to Local Education Activities throughout the U.S. that serve children of military families.
