Norwich – Veterans' Memorial Elementary School will receive a $425,000 federal grant in the coming school year to cover some of the same school improvement plans already in place through state grants at the Uncas and John B. Stanton schools.

School officials received approval of the federal School Improvement Grant Monday from the state Department of Education, which oversees the federal program as it does the state school reform grants enacted during Gov. Dannel P. Malloy's administration. Norwich receives funding districtwide through the state Alliance District program, and Stanton and Uncas schools receive additional funding as Commissioner's Network Schools.

“As you know, the federal SIG program is designed to support bold and transformative plans likely to dramatically improve student achievement. We were impressed by the quality of Veterans Elementary School's plan and appreciate the time and energy taken to develop the application,” Ellen Cohn, interim chief academic officer at the state Department of Education's Turnaround Office, wrote in the approval letter.

Veterans' Memorial will receive the $425,000 for the school year that starts in late August and qualifies for up to the same amount in the next two school years, depending on success and approval by the state officials reviewing the school's use of the funds.

Superintendent Abby Dolliver said she was “excited to add educational opportunities” the grant will bring to the 300-student kindergarten through fifth-grade school. The funding will be used to extend the school day by a half hour and to bring some of the Network School programs to assist students in the classroom to Veterans' Memorial.

In addition, Cohn wrote, Veterans' Memorial qualifies for up to $500,000 in state bond money “as added support for the bold reforms proposed by Veterans' Elementary School and Norwich Public Schools.” Norwich received state bond money for structural improvements to the two Commissioner's Network schools as well.

“We're just happy to have it,” Dolliver said.

c.bessette@theday.com

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