Concord Community Schools is pleased to announce that the district is the recipient of a multi-million dollar grant to support students, staff, and families.
The Next Generation School Improvement Grant (Next Gen SIG) grant was awarded by the Indiana Department of Education and will provide $410,000 in planning funds over the next year, and up to $4.1 million in grant funds over the following three years.
“These funds will directly impact Concord High School and Concord South Side Elementary School based on their eligibility for the Next Generation SIG program, but will indirectly impact all seven of our schools in one way or another,” Concord Community Schools Superintendent Dan Funston said. “This grant is a huge win for our students and their families, as well as the greater Concord community.”
The Indiana Department of Education launched the (Next Gen SIG) program in the 2021-2022. The grant supports a one-year planning phase, followed by a three-year implementation phase. This was a highly competitive grant, with 48 applicants across the state. Concord Community Schools’ grant application was given a 97% rubric rating -- the highest in the state for this year’s cohort.
“We are fortunate to have incredible teachers and support staff at all of our schools who are invested in our kids. It is their commitment that makes our school district a place where such opportunities are possible,” Funston said. “This grant will help us build on our proven successes, expanding and innovating within our current programs to further enhance our students' future success.”
Over the next year, Concord will engage in a comprehensive planning process to ensure that the district maximizes the impact of these funds. The planning period is going to be important as district and school leaders set the stage for the next three years of implementation, Funston added.
The work will center around several key objectives: Improving student achievement outcomes, exploring high-quality early childhood programming, expanding college and career advising for students, and growing the educational attainment of students and graduates through meaningful work-based learning experiences, such as modern youth apprenticeships, that lead to credentials and college credit.
“This work directly aligns with our Concord Strategic Plan and is in response to the feedback we received from our community about the school district they want for their children, now and in the future,” Funston said.
The key objectives also closely align with the state’s proposed changes to graduation requirements, ensuring that Concord students can access opportunities that advance their educational attainment, opening doors to the future.
“This grant is an incredible opportunity for our district to help make great things happen for kids — and to keep our focus on the areas that our state leaders, local school board, school staff, parents, and community have identified as important to our success,” Funston said. “We’re grateful for this opportunity and look forward to the future of Concord Community Schools.”