District Qualifies for
$456K State Grant
In a challenging financial era, every last dollar helps. The Huntington School District has learned that it has qualified for a state grant worth more than $450,000 to fund professional development and teacher training and mentoring and national board certification.
Huntington's grant has been awarded through New York's Strengthening Teacher and Leader Effectiveness program. It is one of 49 districts/charter schools in the state to qualify for the grant program, which is partially funded with federal Race to the Top initiative monies.
Huntington Superintendent James W. Polansky said the district expects to receive about $456,000 through the grant. A total of ten Long Island districts qualified for a STLE grant award.
"The STLE funding will help us to address some of our needs associated with staff development and mentoring," Mr. Polansky said. "Every dollar is meaningful in this financial climate."
"Research shows the best way for schools to help students succeed is to have an effective teacher in every classroom and an effective principal in every school building," SED Commissioner John B. King, Jr. said. "But all too often, our highest need students miss out on great teachers and school leaders. STLE grants will help school districts recruit, develop, support and retain effective teachers and leaders at every level."
Huntington's grant award will become official once the state accepts the district's annual professional performance review plan for faculty members. The grant program is part of the Board of Regent's goal to strengthen teacher and administrator effectives at every grade level, with a special emphasis on supporting high-need students, improving the academic results of English language learners and students with disabilities, advancing student learning in science, technology, engineering and math and improving the "equitable distribution" of highly effective teachers and school leaders.
"Our goal is to prepare every student to graduate college and be career ready," Dr. King said. "These grants are the product of collaborative efforts between school districts and local unions that share that goal. It's all about helping our students succeed."