Glendale Unified seeks federal funds to enhance science, tech and math programs

The Glendale Unified School District is going after a grant of almost $3 million to boost its science, technology, engineering, and mathematics programs.

The federal grant became available this spring as most states prepare to adopt new federal standards that further emphasize the programs, commonly known as STEM.

Worth $2.99 million, the five-year grant would benefit Clark Magnet High School as well as Roosevelt, Rosemont, Toll and Wilson middle schools.

As Glendale school officials wait for federal approval to turn in the grant’s full application, they have submitted a seven-page pre-application and started considering how millions of dollars could benefit Glendale schools.

For Kelly King, director of Glendale Unified’s categorical programs, the grant would allow the district to stay on the cutting edge of STEM education.

“If you keep teaching [students] the same way with the same equipment in the same style, you can’t expect different results,” King said. “If we don’t change what a lab looks like at a middle school, how can we truly say we’re preparing our kids for their future?”

Educators also believe the grant would build on Clark’s success as a science and technology magnet, and a recipient of accolades from state and federal educators.

The grant would fund “knowledge centers” at Clark and at each of the district’s four middle schools, where students and teachers would focus on robotics programs and host technology boot camps.

“They’ve created something at Clark Magnet that works for kids,” King said. “For us to not tap into that … that would be our loss.”

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Follow Kelly Corrigan on Twitter: @kellymcorrigan.