7 King County school districts win $40 million grant
SEATTLE (AP) - Seven school districts in King County have won a $40 million federal grant, the U.S. Department of Education announced Tuesday.
The grant is part of the federal Race to the Top initiative and the money is going to the Auburn, Federal Way, Highline, Kent, Renton, Seattle and Tukwila school districts.
The districts competed together, created the Puget Sound Educational Service District and drew up a unified plan.
King County's application was one of 16 winners out of 372 entries. Grants ranged from $5 million to $40 million, and King County was one of two to win the $40 million grant. The grant's amount was determined by the number of students, the special district said.
"The region's plan is designed to have big impact where it's needed most. We are excited to roll out strategies that will help all students experience success," said John Welch, superintendent of the Puget Sound Educational Service District.
The special district covers 261 schools and 150,000 students. It says 36,000 of those students are of high-needs.
Welch said the grant, spread over four years, will help schools fund science, technology, engineering and math programs; early learning; and college preparation in high school and middle school.
The 16 winners represent 55 school districts across 11 states, the U.S. Department said.
"When we level the playing field by providing increased access and opportunity for our students, everyone wins," said Democratic U.S. Sen. Patty Murray in a statement.
The grant is part of the federal Race to the Top initiative and the money is going to the Auburn, Federal Way, Highline, Kent, Renton, Seattle and Tukwila school districts.
The districts competed together, created the Puget Sound Educational Service District and drew up a unified plan.
King County's application was one of 16 winners out of 372 entries. Grants ranged from $5 million to $40 million, and King County was one of two to win the $40 million grant. The grant's amount was determined by the number of students, the special district said.
"The region's plan is designed to have big impact where it's needed most. We are excited to roll out strategies that will help all students experience success," said John Welch, superintendent of the Puget Sound Educational Service District.
The special district covers 261 schools and 150,000 students. It says 36,000 of those students are of high-needs.
Welch said the grant, spread over four years, will help schools fund science, technology, engineering and math programs; early learning; and college preparation in high school and middle school.
The 16 winners represent 55 school districts across 11 states, the U.S. Department said.
"When we level the playing field by providing increased access and opportunity for our students, everyone wins," said Democratic U.S. Sen. Patty Murray in a statement.
"Schools win a 40 million grant"? Was their some kind of contest?? Was this a lotto? Were they playing cards for a 40M pot?? Come on you clowns report it like it is!!! The headline should have read King Co. schools receive a 40M grant for what ever it was for rather than out illustrious school board in some kind of poker game. It would be nice of that money went to the schools rather than being siphoned off for some other nefarious purpose.Â
Politicians first need to take their cut of the $40M before the money can be used for the public.
Maybe Federal Way can bring back librarians seeing how they got rid of half of them. Yea! Lets make 4 new Assistant Superintendents, hire a "Director Teacher Effectiveness", bloat admin and hire an inefficient, out of state Superintendent who had a chance to change things but wussed out. I'm sure they will use the money wisely. Maybe I can get a whole class set of science books this year. I can dream.
Awesome!!!
With the passing of the Washington Public Charter Schools Initiative (I-1240) last month, winning this $40 million federal grant is a good start for these lucky seven King County school districts. It's a win-win for everyone, right?
Let's hope the money is actually used for the student's benefit and not wasted on unnecessary ridiculousness.
 @Tattooed_Angel I'm quite sure they'll find ways to waste, er, *spend* it on TOTALLY necessary and much needed ridiculousness.
Investing in education is money well spent.
 @NWNative But pouring good money down a rat-hole after bad isn't.And, judging by the past performance of Kent, Highline, etc, I'll be hopeful but not optimistic.
 @RN1  @NWNative Please cite peer reviewed data supporting your surmise. Please do not use WASL or MSP data as it is not reliable, comparable or norm-referenced. Your bias always shows.
@RN1@NWNative
I don't believe for a moment that you were a trained, certificated teacher. Your statement about "Well, if you say the state tests are not that good as evidence, then that means you already KNOW they show they are not performing well", shows again your complete ignorance. When our students take norm-referenced assessments they score above average. When they take the CAT or the SAT they score above average.
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One of the largest studies of its kind (organized by G.W. Bush's own Rod Paige, they guy who called teachers terrorists), found, much to their dismay that: "public school students were performing as well as, and in some cases even better than, private school students from similar backgrounds." The study went on to say: "The report also found that "Conservative Christian" schools performed significantly worse than either public or other private schools".
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You are so predictable in your arguments.
I work with many 18-20 year olds fresh out of high school, on a daily basis. The vast majority of them have absolutely deplorable basic skills - one kid literally could not read his diploma. It's so bad, it makes me wonder what they do all day long in K-12. In addition, their level of apathy is almost scary, in that these "kids" are the future leaders of our country.
 @thebigteacher  @NWNative Well, if you say the state tests are not that good as evidence, then that means you already KNOW they show they are not performing well. How about having taught in Kent myself for a couple of years and seen it first-hand, and knowing people living in Highline who drive their kids out of district or to private schools rather than send their kids there, and commute long distances out of that district to work as teachers.... Yes, admittedly anecdotal, but it's what I've got handy.
Alas, some writer doesn't know what they are writing about. Nothing new here I suppose. These seven fortunate school districts did not create the Puget Sound Educational Service District to help win this grant. PSESD along with the other Educational Service Districts in the state have been around for a very long time. They are an extension of the state's Office of Superitendent of Public Instruction. So I'm not sure how PSESD fits into this. If I had to guess they helped the Lucky 7 in filing their grant request. If anyone knows for sure please clarify this.
Taxpayers take a hit again. these short term gains end up long term liabilities. Government schools should be abolished.
 @contraryjim They could be found in violation of separation of church and state, because for many on the left government IS their religion.
 @contraryjim Tell that to out founding fathers:
1785 The Continental Congress (before the U.S. Constitution was ratified) passes a law calling for a survey of the "Northwest Territory". The law created "townships," reserving a portion of each township for a local school.
Great... Another 40mil to be flush down the school system and never be seen again.
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Here we go again...
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When are you idiots gonna figure out that there's no such thing as a free lunch?
Yeah, we got 40 million from the fed, but 50 states paid for that. Seven didn't.
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When someone gets fed help in Georgia, California, Mississippi, or ANY other state, ALL of us are paying for it.
The level of ignorance is truly astounding.
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EVERY taxpayer in EVERY state is paying for chit in 49 other states as well as their own. The fed has one huge bank account that we all pay into, and NONE of us gets back but a pittance for our contribution.
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When did we become so stoopid?
 @bobalouie here we go again...
another idiot conservative who opposes education of anykind, because the only way someone is going to support the conservative agenda, is without an education.
@this: This 'idiot' qualifies to be a member of MENSA but refuses to pay to join there stinking club. I certainly don't oppose education. I DO oppose indoctrination. I DO oppose dumbing down our class rooms. I DO oppose the 'feel good' crap we promote in our schools.
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Is that the kind of education you espouse? And you call me an idiot.
15 years of your idea has led us to where we are now, as a state and a country. And you're proud of it. Pass me the dunce cap because I think it's disgusting.
 @T H I S  @bobalouie Another liberal that think money spent on education always helps, and who never considers alternatives, or where the money could be better spent, or the fact that the FedGov is BORROWING 46% of what is spends now, so that "free" money has interest attached that we the taxpayers are footing.
@RN1 At the rate we are borrowing that money, the schools might best use that money to start teaching Chinese. At the rate that we are being immigrated and bred into a hispanic nation, we also might need to start mandating Spanish language clases and replace English altogether.
 More free stuff? "When we level the playing field by providing increased access and opportunity for our students, everyone wins," Spoken like a true socialist.
 @2times Could you please say "communist" next time? I know you really want to
Where did the Fed. Govt. get all that money?
 @Rockberry They printed it of course!
@Quackula @Rockberry  And borrowed it from the Chinese.
Since there are 7 school districts involved it will probably take a 39 million dollar study to decide who gets what.
@Jatok  Yep.....A $39 Million study and $3 Million worth of extra administration should give us a net loss of $2 Million. Sounds like a bargain.