South Callaway superintendent Mary Lynn Battles had news to share with the board of education during their Wednesday meeting that meant additional funding for South Callaway Elementary School to prepare educators to improve lower-income students' performance.
"We have recently been contacted by DESE that South Callaway Elementary School is one of 350 school buildings that could participate in a statewide collaborative initiative that is intended to improve student outcome," said Battles. "Our elementary school is high-performing in general, but there is a gap between our students that are identified as a free or reduced lunch and (other students) in performance. And because of that gap, we are eligible to receive some additional funds and support from the (Regional Professional Development Center) that would allow us, without cost, to have additional training, materials, resources and other support to help us move towards narrowing the gap in performance among all students."
The funds came when the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education developed its plan to move the state away from No Child Left Behind standards. This included a plan to utilize federal funds that had been used to improve schools in need of student improvement.