The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation donated $10.4 million Tuesday to North Carolina’s New Schools Project and Learn and Earn program, marking the second time in three years the foundation has provided funding to improving high schools and creating an early-college program.
In all, the Gates Foundation has given $21.4 million, $11 million of which came in 2003, to the New Schools and Learn and Earn Projects. Of the $10.4 million in new funding, $9 million goes to the New Schools Project, a program aimed at redesigning high schools with economic development themes, while $1 million goes to Learn and Earn, a program that allows students to attend high school for five years and graduate with an associate’s degree.
Gov. Mike Easley announced the new grant during a press conference where Tom Vander Ark, executive director for education of the Gates Foundation, joined him. Others in attendance were Superintendent of Schools June Atkinson, UNC President Erskine Bowles, and President of the North Carolina Community College System Martin Lancaster.
According to a press release, 11 new high schools will focus on an economic development theme in the state. Easley said an additional 21 schools will open in the fall, while 20 more will open in 2007-2008. The new high schools will focus on themes such as engineering, international studies, information technology, and biotechnology.
There are 13 Learn and Earn programs in operation, with 23 to open in the fall and 20 the next year. Many of the programs are based on the campuses of the state’s community colleges and universities.
Tony Habit, of the New Schools Project, said the new grant would allow for the development of up to 30 new schools, depending on enrollment trends. However, part of the grant will be used for teacher training and development and other resources.
Easley said it was important to focus high schools on job training in order to keep pace with other economies in the world.
“We intend to not only fight back, but we intend to win,” Easley said about educational achievements and competition from other countries.
Vander Ark said he was impressed with what North Carolina has done with the program. His goal was for every student to have access to at least one quality school, he said. “We are going to keep coming back,” he said. “We intend to be a long-term partner here.”
Vander Ark said the grant will augment funding that is being discussed in the Senate. The Senate’s proposed budget includes more than $20 million in funding in the Department of Public Instruction, UNC, and community college budgets for the New Schools and Learn and Earn projects.
The announcement of the Gates Foundation’s latest grant came on the same day the Senate released its budget plan.
“It’s the best education budget that we’ve seen come out of the Senate at least in my lifetime,” Easley said.
Shannon Blosser is associate editor of Carolina Journal.