Siouxland schools among 67 to receive $6M in grants

SIOUX CITY, Iowa ( KCAU ) — Some Siouxland schools have been awarded grants from the Iowa Department of Education.

According to a release, the Iowa Department of Education awarded nearly $6 million in “Learning Beyond the Bell” grants to 67 schools on Monday.

The release states that these schools can use these grants to create or expand before and after-school programs “grounded in evidence-based best practices.”

“Learning Beyond the Bell grants will support improved student achievement, strong attendance, and positive behaviors,” Iowa Department of Education Director McKenzie Snow said. “The Department is leveraging additional federal funds to increase support for Learning Beyond the Bell grants from $3.5 million to nearly $6 million, encouraged by the tremendous response of schools and community organizations to this opportunity.”

The following Siouxland schools will receive a portion of these federal funds:

• Alta-Aurelia Community School District
  • Alta Elementary School
• Clay Central-Everly Community School District
  • Clay Central-Everly Elementary School
• Emmetsburg Community School District
  • West Elementary School
• Kingsley-Pierson Community School District
  • Kingsley Elementary School
• Sibley-Ocheyedan Community School District
  • Sibley-Ocheyedan Elementary School
• Sioux City Community School District
  • Leeds Elementary School
  • Irving Dual Language Elementary School
• Woodbine Community School District
  • Woodbine Elementary School

“We commend all of the awardees for their leadership in realizing our shared vision to bridge and close learning gaps through engaging students in dynamic learning and supporting working families beyond the school day,” Snow said.

To be considered for these grants, district applicants had to demonstrate a clear, sustainable plan for offering before and after-school programming. These plans needed to include instruction in specific academic focus areas based on evidence and the needs of the students being served. Plans also addressed daily attendance, transportation to and from the program, high-quality staffing, and community partnerships.

Additionally, the Department of Education determined the amounts that schools would receive based on alignment with grant objectives and the expenditures outlined in each applicant’s budget proposal, with a maximum of $200,000 per school. These funds can be used for staffing, evidence-based interventions in math or reading, tutoring, activities that would advance student achievement, transportation, and food that meets federal nutritional guidelines.

Schools can expect the grants to be distributed throughout spring, summer, and into the 2024-25 school year following a 10-business day appeal period as required by state law.

Additional information about Learning Beyond the Bell grants can be found on the Iowa Department of Education’s website .

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