Delaware awarded federal education grant

Delaware will receive a $1.4 million federal education grant to help improve low-performing schools.

The money is part of the U.S. Department of Education’s plan to give six states a total of $38 million through the School Improvement Grants program.

“When schools fail, our children and neighborhoods suffer,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan in a statement. “Turning around our lowest-performing schools is hard work but it’s our responsibility, and represents a tremendous opportunity to improve the life chances of children.”

Since 2009, 13 Delaware schools have received money through the grant program.

The Delaware Department of Education has not yet determined which schools will receive funding through the grant this year, but public school districts with “focus” schools as well as charter “focus” schools will be eligible to apply for the grant money.

A focus school is classified as a school with large achievement gaps or schools with low performance or graduation rates.

Georgia, Mississippi, West Virginia, Nebraska and the District of Columbia are also receiving grant money.