The Windgate Foundation in Siloam Springs recently awarded the College of Education & Health Professions at the University of Arkansas a $1.3 million grant.
The five-year grant of $266,735 per year will support the Arkansas A+ Schools program based in North Little Rock, and it will count toward Campaign Arkansas, the university’s $1 billion capital campaign.
Steve Dittmore, assistant dean for outreach at the college, said the funding would help the program expand. Arkansas A+ Schools provides professional development, networking and research data to its member schools, with a focus on incorporating the arts into other subjects being taught, like literacy, math, science and history.
John Brown, executive director of the Windgate Foundation, said the A+ Schools model was first piloted in North Carolina over 20 years ago.
At least 85 percent of a school’s teachers must approve of the school’s application. Once a school is accepted, its teachers take part in a five-day training institute in the summer and two on-site professional development sessions provided by the program during the school year. Cost to the schools is based on the location and size of the school.
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