The Indiana Department of Education has announced that the Gary Community School Corporation (GCSC) has been awarded a Next Generation School Improvement Grant focused on transforming student outcomes at Beveridge Elementary, Daniel Hale Williams Elementary, Frankie Woods McCullough Academy, and Glen Park Academy for Excellence. The grant amount is $800,000.
“We are incredibly excited about being awarded this significant grant to further serve our scholars,” said GCSC Superintendent Dr. Yvonne Stokes. “Our team worked diligently to complete the application process which now positions the district for greater academic outcomes and school transformation at the elementary level.”
Below is a list of frequently asked questions regarding the Next Generation School Improvement Grant:
What is the Next Generation School Improvement Grant?
Indiana’s Next Generation School Improvement Grant is a highly-competitive grant focused on school transformation. Beginning in 2021, the Indiana Department of Education implemented a novel approach to awarding federal Title I school improvement funds. Rather than distributing a relatively small amount of money to several schools, the Indiana Department of Education invited compelling applications throughout the state and funded a few districts/schools at much larger amounts to create proofpoints for academic acceleration and systems transformation. Gary has been awarded a planning year grant for Cohort 5 of this program. Read more about Indiana’s Next Generation School Improvement Grants.
How much money has Gary been awarded?
The Next Generation School Improvement Grant is separated into two phases: a planning year grant and an implementation grant. The planning year grant is for $800,000, which will be used to strategically plan and pilot the following initiatives in 2025-2026.
- Personalize and differentiate learning experiences through a flexible daily schedule, personalized learning software, and high-dosage tutoring
- Increase leadership capacity through systems change science, beginning with visits to high-performing schools
- Leverage a dual-capacity framework for family engagement, establishing bi-directional learning opportunities between schools and our families
What about implementation?
Based on the success of our planning year and completion of Indiana Department of Education benchmarks, we anticipate being awarded a three-year implementation grant worth $3-$8 million. The amount will be determined over the next 8-12 months.
How can I support this work?
Throughout the 2025-2026 school year, our Education Transformation Team will meet frequently to discuss the strategic, effective use of these funds. Please stay tuned for updates on opportunities to contribute to our planning and implementation efforts.
What does this mean for Gary?
Both the Gary Community School Corporation and the City of Gary are at an inflection point. We are excited about the state’s historic investment in our district, our collaboration with city leaders, and the learning opportunities this will provide our students, staff, and families. The time for transformation is now, and we’re fully committed to making our schools and community desirable places to learn and live.
More information will be shared about the School Improvement Grant at today's School Board Meeting, which will be held at 4:30 p.m. at the Gary Area Career Center, 1800 E. 35th Avenue in Gary. For more information about the Gary Community School Corporation, visit www.GarySchools.org.
GARY COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION | garycsc.k12.in.us
