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AUGUSTA — School programs in Somerset and Cumberland counties are among four that have been warded conditional EMBRACE grants, the Maine Department of Education has announced.
The grants are made available to school districts and other education agencies as part of the statewide regionalization initiative, and prioritize enabling Maine students to benefit from regional and coordinated approaches to education.
The awardees are partnering on a regional level to improve educational opportunities for students.
A total of 17 applications were received by the department for the second competitive grant opportunity funded through the Fund for the Efficient Delivery of Educational Services, which was made available to districts last summer. Of those 17 applications, four have been conditionally awarded. Based on the funding requests, totaling $4.2 million, the four awardees have projected savings of more than $7 million in a five-year period.
The latest awards are to:
Kennebec Valley Multiple Pathways Academy II. The project will support a high school alternative education program that aims to reduce dropout and truancy rates by providing new and improved opportunities for at-risk students with multiple pathways for achievement. Particpants are Regional School Unit 83/Maine School Administrative District 13 — Bingham, Moscow (lead SAU); RSU 59/MSAD 59 — Madison; RSU 74/MSAD 74 — Anson, Embden, New Portland, Solon.
Maine Center for Leadership and Innovation. The project will support the creation of a Leadership Academy that aims to provide a high-quality, research-based system of professional learning experiences and support for school- and district-level leaders. Particpants are RSU 6/MSAD 6 — Buxton, Frye Island, Hollis, Limington, Standish (lead SAU); Brunswick Public Schools; Cape Elizabeth Public Schools; Gorham Public Schools; Portland Public Schools; RSU 14 — Raymond, Windham; RSU 15/MSAD 15 — Gray, New Gloucester; Scarborough Public Schools; South Portland Public Schools; Westbrook Public Schools.
Down East Maine Career and Technical Education Collaborative — Thes project will support the expansion of career and technical education programming opportunities to western Washington County. The project aims to increase student enrollment in CTE programs at the high school level and provide introductory and exploratory sessions for middle school students. Participants are RSU 37/MSAD 37 — Addison, Columbia, Columbia Falls, Harrington, Milbridge (lead SAU); Cherryfield Public Schools; Machias Public Schools; Moosabec CSD 17/School Union 103 — Beals Public Schools, Jonesport Public Schools; Washington Academy.
Valley Unified Learning Transformed — The project will support three components for the Valley Unified Integrated, Consolidated 9-16 Educational Facility: the merger of software systems that feed into the common student information and payroll/accounting systems; a comprehensive enrollment study, educational visioning, concept approval, and site approval; and develop programming options that link regional workforce needs to the regional education goals. Participants are Madawaska Public Schools (lead SAU); MSAD 27 — Fort Kent, New Canada, St. Francis, St. John Plantation, Wallagrass; RSU 33/MSAD 33 — Frenchville, St. Agatha.
The first two rounds of EMBRACE grant funding in 2017 and the spring of 2018, had 19 grantees being awarded over $7.5 million in funds for regionalization efforts.
