ARLINGTON, VA – The Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) Educational Partnership awarded a $2 million grant to Clarksville-Montgomery County School System (CMCSS) in Clarksville, Tennessee through the Promoting Student Achievement at Schools Impacted by Military Force Structure Changes FY 09 Competitive Grant Program. The Clarksville-Montgomery School District supports students whose families are stationed at Fort Campbell.
The DoDEA grants focus on enhancing student learning opportunities, student achievement, and educator professional development at military-connected schools with projected military student growth between 2007 and 2009 due to force structure changes. This data is based on a Report to Congress on Assistance to Local Educational Agencies for Defense Dependents Education published in March 2008. School districts serving 22 military installations identified through that report were invited to submit a grant proposal.
“The Clarksville-Montgomery County School System plays a vital role in assisting Fort Campbell and its Soldiers and Families attain distinction as a world class Army community,” said Charles A. Munson, Deputy to the Fort Campbell Garrison Commander.
“We are honored to provide educational services to children of our military men and women. And, we appreciate the financial support this grant provides,” said CMCSS Director of Schools Michael Harris.
“Attending to the educational development of area young people, particularly the Family members of our Soldiers, enhances the well-being of our military community, as well as the community as a whole. Fort Campbell is proud to be a partner with the Clarksville-Montgomery County School System and salutes those that make the system work so well,” Munson said.
The CMCSS grant for Project Eagle Wings is focused on insuring that all students exit elementary and middle school with grade-level proficient skills in math and reading increasing their ability to graduate high school. Students’ academic needs will be addressed with a three-tier intervention model designed by the district.
“This grant could not have been awarded at a better time as we implement the new more rigorous academic standards adopted by the state of Tennessee,” said Michael Harris, Director of Schools, Clarksville-Montgomery County Schools. “This will go a long way in helping us support our military dependents and their academic needs.”
“This is the first year DoDEA has been able to execute our grant program and it’s very gratifying to be able to offer assistance to the schools that are educating our military’s children.” said Dr. Shirley Miles, Director of DoDEA. “We are looking forward to seeing how the districts implement the programs they’ve developed. We know that all children in the grant recipient districts will benefit from these awards.”
DoDEA’s aim is to enhance the education of military students, but funds may be used to raise student achievement for all students.
In FY 2007, the John Warner National Defense Authorization Act allowed DoDEA to expand its reach to the approximately 92% of military students that do not attend DoDEA Schools. Through collaboration with the Department of Education, DoDEA is working to ease the transition of military students and providing resources to Local Education Agencies (LEAs) who educate military dependent students.
DoDEA consists of the Department of Defense Dependents Schools located overseas, and the Department of Defense Domestic Dependent Elementary and Secondary Schools located in the U.S. and its territories and possessions. DoDEA provides education to eligible DoD military and civilian dependents from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade. DoDEA also provides support and resources to Local Education Activities throughout the U.S. that serve children of military families.
The CMCSS schools which meet the grant requirements include: Barkers Mill Elementary, Glenellen Elementary School, Hazelwood Elementary School, Kenwood Elementary School, Liberty Elementary School, Minglewood Elementary School, Northeast Elementary School, Rossview Elementary School, Sango Elementary School, West Creek Elementary School, West Creek Elementary School, Woodlawn Elementary School, Kenwood Middle School, New Providence Middle School, Northeast Middle School, Rossview Middle School, West Creek Middle School, Kenwood High School, Northeast Elementary High School, Northwest High School and Rossview High Schools. In order to qualify, schools must serve a minimum of 200 military dependents, and the military dependents represent 15 percent or greater of the building’s total student population.
