ARC Grant for MSU Project to benefit Winston

Mississippi State University has been awarded an Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) grant of $259,613 to improve the teaching of math and science in middle and high schools, the university announced.

The grant will fund MSU's Project SMARTER (Science and Math Advancement and Reform Utilizing Technology & Enhanced Resources), and will benefit Winston and dozen of other counties in the state.

"Project STMARTER is a valuable program, and ARC's grant will provide an important investment in our children's education and future throughout North Mississippi," said Congressman Travis Childers. "These funds will go to the counties that need them the most, and their impact will grow as the project continues to expand."

The grant will benefit many distressed, at risk and transitional counties. Winston County is considered a distressed county in the funding measure. Among the other distressed counties are Benton, Marshall, Webster, and Yalobusha. Among the At Risk counties are Alcorn, Calhoun, Lowndes, Monroe, Prentiss, Tippah and Tishomingo. In the Transitional counties category are Itawamba, Lee, Pontotoc, and Union.

MSU plans to expand this successful program into additional counties. Project SMARTER will provide hands-on experiences and technology training for five additional teams, each consisting of three grade 7-12 science, mathematics, and technology teachers. Project SMARTER focuses on integrating technology into the science and mathematics curricula of Mississippi schools located in ARC counties.

At the completion of a summer workshop, each team will be given a "SMARTcart," which consists of a laptop computer, SMARTboard, computer projection system, digital camera, printer, and mobile cart. The cart will allow them to conduct hands-on activities in their classrooms. The project includes a two-week summer training and research workshop for 15 teachers at Red Hills Mine and two additional days for orientation, SMARTcart training, and a semester follow-up sessions at MSU.

In addition to ARC funds, the grantee will provide $41,640 and Red Hills Mine will provide $21,500 in cash and services for a total project cost of $322,753.