MPUSD Awarded $1 Million to Further College Career Readiness through Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Offerings

For Immediate Release
October 3, 2019

MPUSD Awarded $1 Million to Further College Career Readiness

through Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Offerings

Third DoDEA grant received in five years

Monterey, CA – The Monterey Peninsula Unified School District was awarded $1 million from the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) to promote K-12 student achievement at military-connected schools. This is the third time MPUSD has received funding from DoDEA to serve students in five years - 2015, 2017 and, now 2019.

This highly competitive DoDEA grant is part of the Military-Connected Local Educational Agencies for Academic and Support Programs (MCASP), which aims to strengthen family-school-community relationships and enhance student achievement for military dependent students.

In 2018, MPUSD submitted a proposal - STEM Success Initiative - for consideration of funding. At that time, the funding became unavailable; however MPUSD was notified on September 28 that it will receive $1 million over five years (2019-2024) to prepare military-dependent students to be college and career ready by focusing on the use of classroom technology to:

Support STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) International Baccalaureate courses at Monterey High School
After school STEM team and student STEM-related competitions for grades 9-12
STEM writing for grades 3 - 5
Professional development and coaching - International Baccalaureate and technology support

Specifically, at the high school level, the district will increase the percentage of military-connected high school students who earn an International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program certificate; and at the elementary level, MPUSD will increase student competency on the state’s computer adaptive English Language Arts assessment.

“MPUSD has a strong military history and is committed to serving its military students. Military families make many sacrifices in service to our country, and it is incumbent on us to provide the best educational opportunities for their students while they are in our district. Research has proven that STEM activities outside of the classroom enhances students’ learning experience, and this $1 million will go a long way to extend the educational foundation our military connected students receive,” said Superintendent PK Diffenbaugh.

MPUSD’s three schools with the highest percentage of military-connected students will receive the funding. The following reflects student enrollment at La Mesa Elementary, Marshall Elementary and Monterey High School:

SCHOOL	GRADES	# OF MILITARY CONNECTED STUDENTS	# OF NON-MILITARY CONNECTED STUDENTS	# OF STUDENTS TOTAL	% OF MILITARY-CONNECTED STUDENTS IN SCHOOL
La Mesa Elementary	K-5	382	92	474	81%
Marshall Elementary	K-5	429	115	544	79%
Monterey High School	9 - 12	300	981	1281	23%
TOTAL FOR GRANT	K-12	1,111		2,299	48%

"We congratulate the Monterey Peninsula Unified School District on being awarded the Department of Defense Education Activity's STEM grant. The district provides unrivaled support to military families, and this grant highlights their dedication to our children,” said Colonel Gregory Ford, Presidio of Monterey Garrison Commander. “This grant ensures our military children will be at the forefront of STEM education, today and into tomorrow. We thank MPUSD for embracing military families as part of their community, we will always be stronger together."

This new grant is the fourth grant overall for MPUSD, and the third one in the last five years. MPUSD was awarded MCASP grants in 2011, 2015, and 2017. The 2011 grant primarily provided a liaison at elementary schools and computers for military-connected students. The 2015 grant continued to support military-connected students’ social-emotional needs at La Mesa and Marshall elementary schools through counseling services and an elementary Student2Student (S2S) Program to welcome and involve new students. The 2015 grant also provided a liaison at Walter Colton Middle and Monterey High schools to meet the needs of students through the Student 2 Student program which includes regular meetings, activities and field trips. The 2017 grant provided support in the area of STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) and mathematics.

# # #