Norwich – The state Department of Education today approved a $1 million Network School funding to continue a school performance turnaround program that started last year at the John B. Stanton School.

School officials learned today that the state approved $1,005,336 to continue the plan that calls for an extended day of learning, full-day kindergarten, classroom interventionists to work directly with struggling students and measures to improve parental involvement in the school.

Superintendent Abby Dolliver said the grant approval came too late to run an expanded summer school that was part of last year's Network School reform effort, but regular summer school is operating.

Stanton School was selected as one of four schools in the state by Gov. Dannel P. Malloy to receive extra funding to launch specialized education reform efforts. The turnaround plan was created by a committee of administrators, teachers and parents and had to be approved by the state Department of Education.

Norwich school officials are still awaiting word on a $2.3 million state Alliance District school improvement grant that could help expand full-day kindergarten to other city schools and fund additional reforms.