RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas –
The Department of Defense Education Activity board announced July 29 that Randolph Field Independent School District was selected to receive a $1.3 million grant to be awarded over the next three years.
Randolph Field's goal is to reduce the achievement gap between at-risk students and their peers and this grant money will help reach that goal through enhancing educator professional development student learning opportunities and achievement in the areas of mathematics, science, reading, English language arts and writing.
"The district appreciates the opportunity afforded through this grant to accelerate our progress toward becoming a professional learning community that will enhance the academic achievement of each Randolph Field ISD student," Billy Walker, RFISD superintendent said.
The district encourages ongoing learning and continuous improvement of teachers and staff, and the largest portion of the grant will be used to further develop RFISD as a professional learning community. In 2007, RFISD implemented professional learning communities in an effort to move from an emphasis on teaching to an emphasis on student learning and test outcome analysis.
As a result, "more than 65 percent of our students choose RFISD, even though they live in other school districts," Mr. Walker said. "Our district enjoys an excellent reputation for meeting the academic and social-emotional needs of children, but until every child gets there [academic success] we have work to do. This grant will help us move forward."
Other plans for the grant money include the increased use of educational technology to aid in instruction. Teachers will incorporate the use of interactive white boards into their classrooms, while a new stock of graphing calculators, a wireless networking system and data-collection devices such as motion detectors and oxygen sensors will further supplement a student's academic achievement.
Last, Mr. Walker said, RFIDS plans to increase opportunities for student enrichment through after-school and summer math, reading and science programs that will encourage high expectations and instill a positive attitude in students.
"We feel very fortunate to have been awarded this grant by the DoD," Mr. Walker explained. "We are looking forward to all the new opportunities this grant will bring us."