State gets $13 million in education grants

Terry Webster

Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2001 | 10:19 a.m.

More than $13 million in U.S. Department of Education grants are coming to Nevada this year.

The Nevada Department of Education will receive $10.8 million for Gear Up, a plan to help disadvantaged students attend college, and the Clark County School District was awarded a $2.3 million grant to expand its magnet schools program.

Gov. Kenny Guinn said the Gear Up grant is a positive step toward "reversing some of Nevada's negative educational trends," which includes being at the bottom of state rankings for dropouts, high school completion and college attendance.

The grant will help fund programs established to lower dropout rates, improve academic performance, increase scores on the Nevada High School Proficiency Exam and boost graduation rates and the number of students attending college.

The Gear Up program -- which provides $10.8 million to the state each year for the next five years -- will begin this fall with seventh graders.

"A college education is quickly becoming a requirement for success in today's fast-paced economy," Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., said. "We need to give young Nevadans the tools they need to compete in this new job market."

Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., said the Gear Up grant reaches out to students who normally would not attend college and allows them to take advantage of programs such as the Millennium Scholarship.

The Clark County School District will receive $2.3 million in each year, for the next three years, to add six new magnet programs.

Magnet schools offer specialized training in areas ranging from advanced academics to teaching and the arts. The program strives to provide a diverse student population in an older school by attracting students from around the valley.

In December 2000, school district officials announced plans to add six new magnet schools for a total of 17 in the district.

The move includes the expansion of the International Baccalaureate program, which culminates with a high school diploma recognized by colleges throughout the world.

The new magnet school programs and their locations include: Sandy Miller Elementary School, primary years International Baccalaureate; Bracken Elementary School, mathematics and science through technology; Bridger Middle School, mathematics and science; Desert Pines High School, information technology, and Rancho High School, biomedical engineering.