Arizona officials announced on Wednesday that the state has been awarded a $34.8 million federal grant to support educationally disadvantaged students within its public charter school system.
According to Superintendent Tom Horne, the funding will be allocated to establish 24 new charter schools specifically catering to educationally disadvantaged students. Additionally, financial support will also be provided to 23 existing charter schools. Horne shared this information during an interview with KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Arizona’s Morning News.
“The purpose is to increase the number of high-quality charter schools focusing on educationally disadvantaged students, to close the achievement gap for them, to increase the capacity of leaders and teachers through technical assistance, to improve teaching and learning, and to increase high school achievement and graduation rates,” Horne said.
How are educationally disadvantaged students determined?
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According to Horne, educationally disadvantaged students can be classified into four categories:
1. Students from low-income backgrounds
2. Students with disabilities
3. Students with limited English proficiency
4. Students who are at risk of dropping out or have already dropped out of school.
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- Racially and ethnically diverse students
- Economically disadvantaged students
- Students with disabilities
- English language learners
Arizona boasts one of the most robust charter school systems in the United States.
Charter schools, which were established through 1994 legislation, are state-funded public schools that offer families a free alternative to traditional K-12 district schools.
Charter schools and the state’s universal voucher program, known as Empowerment Scholarship Accounts (ESAs), are distinct from each other. ESAs are designed to financially support families who choose not to enroll their children in public schools, providing funds to cover specific expenses related to private schooling and homeschooling.
Where does new Arizona charter school funding come from?
The U.S. Department of Education’s Expanding Opportunities Through Quality Charter Schools Program has provided new funding for Arizona. This program has granted funds to six states this year, including Arizona.
The Arizona grant will be distributed over a span of five years, with an annual allocation of approximately $8.7 million in the first and second years, $9.7 million in the third year, $5 million in the fourth year, and $2.6 million in the fifth year.
According to Horne, there is a team member dedicated to securing grants from the federal government. He praised her for her diligent research and exceptional performance in successfully obtaining these grants.