Gov. Jared Polis announced more than $27 million in funding to address educational equity across the state.
The RISE Education Fund, which launched in September 2020, provides CARES Act funding to support school projects addressing gaps caused by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
The first round of recipients received more than $14 million for workforce readiness projects, mental health support and new academic programs. The second round included community college partnerships, early childhood education and service-learning.
The Kwiyagat Community Academy, a new school on the Ute Mountain Ute Reservation, received $2.7 million toward an education plan focused on combining academics with tribal history.
Chairman Manuel Heart said the funding will ensure tribal history is passed on to new generations.
“I think each tribe is different in their own way, in language and culture,” Heart said. “We wanted to implement something in the curriculum that would help them understand where they come from.”
He said the community often loses students to out-of-state boarding schools or neighboring public schools. His hope is this new investment in a school on the reservation will incentivize students to stay.
Read the full article on CPR.org at: https://www.cpr.org/2021/01/26/ute-mountain-ute-school-pueblo-community-college-and-others-get-27-million-for-projects-addressing-pandemic-education-gaps/