Calcasieu school system receives $29-mil TIF Grant - KPLC 7 News, Lake Charles, Louisiana

With all the education cuts and changes statewide, some good is heading to the Calcasieu Parish School System. 

Calcasieu is one of six school systems in the nation to receive the STEM Teacher Incentive Fund (TIF), which is a federal grant. The system is one of 35 to receive the TIF overall.

Beckham said the STEM TIF grant focuses on science, technology, engineering and math.

Over the next five years, Calcasieu will receive $29-million through the TIF.

"The first time I read it I was like "Really? Really we got this? Wow!" So I'm very excited," said grant writer Lauren Beckham.

Beckham is also an Instructional Coach for the New Teacher Academy in the parish.

"This grant is really going to support all that we're having to do and really help not only our teachers, but our administrators and obviously our students," she said.

Some of the benefits will include hands-on lesson labs in subjects like math and science, exposing students to endless possibilities.

The grant comes at a critical time in education as changes to teacher evaluation criteria may have generated controversy.

A large sum of the $29-million will be used toward meeting the new standards. And while specific details need to be ironed out, Beckham said every penny will be accounted for.

"It's very systematic, so there's a plan. It's not just you're given money and it's going to be thrown in this way or that. It's a systematic way to use it," Beckham said.

The TIF Grant will help fund the PROGRESS Project (Professionally Rewarding Outcomes and Growth. Raising Effectiveness and Student Success) which has 21 schools in Calcasieu. Of those 21, 14 are elementary schools, five are middle schools and two are high schools. 

JJ Johnson

Ralph Wilson

Brentwood

Oak Park Elementary

JD Clifton

Barbe Elementary

TH Watkins

EK Key

JF Kennedy

Pearl Watson

Combre- Fondel

College Oaks

Henry Heights

Fairview

Reynaud

Molo

Oak Park Middle

LeBlanc

FK White

Washington Marion

LaGrange

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