In an effort to improve facilities in its high and middle schools, the Asbury Park School District in New Jersey is competing for a federal grant that could provide up to $6 million for the next three years, the Asbury Park Press reports.
The grant, which is awarded by the state's Department of Education, is part of the U.S. Department of Education's School Improvement Grants program, which is designed to help underperforming schools.
If awarded, the Asbury Park School District could receive up to $2 million per year for the next three years. However, to receive the grant, the school district must show it will make significant changes to its curriculum, teaching development, student instruction and other areas to bolster achievement, the news provider reports.
One change the school district is considering is updating the technology used in the classroom. Many educators have found they can use new technology, such as a computer, an interactive whiteboard or a classroom projector, to enhance the learning experience for students and encourage participation in lectures.
The School Improvement Grant was first implemented as part of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, then reinstated in 2002 by the No Child Left Behind Act. According to the U.S. Department of Education's website, it provided $546 million in School Improvement Grants in fiscal year 2010.
