U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO HOST COMMUNITY MEETINGS ON TURNING AROUND TEXAS’ LOWEST-PERFORMING SCHOOLS
Texas Eligible to Receive $337.9 Million to Turn Around Its Lowest-Performing Schools
U.S. Department of Education’s Alberto Retana will hold several community meetings in Austin, Texas, today (Monday) and Tuesday, Feb. 22-23, to discuss turning around Texas’ lowest-performing schools and the $337.9 million available to do so. During his two-day trip, Retana will meet with students at Reagan High School, parents of students who attend schools in the St. John area, and members of the St. John Community School Alliance.
Retana, director of community outreach for the U.S. Department of Education, will meet with students at Reagan High School from 4 to 6 p.m. today, Feb. 22, to hear how they worked with the community to improve their school and keep it open. Later this evening, at 7 p.m., Retana will travel to St. John Community Center to meet with parents whose children attend schools in the St. John area. He will hold a community discussion on the importance of turnaround schools.
On Tuesday, from noon to 1:30 p.m. at Webb Middle School, Retana will meet with the St. John Community School Alliance to discuss its role in stopping the closure of Webb Middle and bringing strong turnaround improvements in the St. John area. The Alliance consist of more than 55 partner organizations, including non-profits, churches, businesses, schools and community groups, that meet monthly to plan ways to coordinate youth support in the St. John area.
This spring, the U.S. Department of Education will award states a total of $3.5 billion in Title I School Improvement grants to turn around their lowest-performing schools. The funds will be awarded by formula to states, which will then make competitive grants to local education agencies (LEAs). Texas is eligible to receive $337.9 million to turn around its lowest-performing schools.