Clovis schools receive DoD grant Published Aug. 27, 2009 By DoD Education Activity ARLINGTON, VA -- The Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) Educational Partnership awarded a $577,000 grant to Clovis Municipal School District in Clovis, N.M., through the Promoting Student Achievement at Schools Impacted by Military Force Structure Changes FY 09 Competitive Grant Program. The 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. "Clovis Municipal Schools is excited to be awarded this grant which will allow us to enhance student achievement at the four designated schools: Barry, Mesa, Ranchvale, and Zia elementary schools," said Dr. Rhonda Seidenwurm Superintendent of Schools. "High mobility is characteristic of schools with many military families, making it increasingly important to offer a comprehensive, proven curriculum that will give our students a foundation that prepares them for any curriculum at any other site and also provides the strong reading background that ensures success in content area instruction," Ms. Seidenwurm added. Clovis Schools will use their grant to improve reading achievement to 90 percent mastery by the end of 3rd grade through integrated approaches to literacy development. This will be accomplished through enhanced research-based instruction for students and sustained professional development for teachers. Success will be measured through student performance on state and criterion-referenced assessments. "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 percent 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 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.