Grant-funded programs to benefit Highlands students' computer learning, vision care
Highlands School District will use one grant to improve computer science education, while another grant-funded program is aimed at improving students’ eyesight.
The district has been awarded a $35,000 Smart Grant from the state to improve its elementary and middle school computer science programs, with a focus on increasing participation by girls and students from low-income families, said Cathy Russo, the district’s coordinator of curriculum, instruction, assessment and funding programs.
Russo noted there is just one girl among 23 students in the one computer science class at Highlands High School.
Russo said most of the grant will be used to pay for professional development for teachers.
Part of the grant also will be used on a summer computer science camp planned for June. Russo said the 10-day camp could accommodate up to 50 students in third through eighth grades and the district would recruit students from groups underrepresented in computer science, such as girls and those from low-income families.
The location of the camp hasn’t been decided.
Superintendent Monique Mawhinney said she’s excited about the effort.
“We’re trying to prepare kids for jobs that don’t even exist yet,” she said.
‘Vision to Learn’
Highlands students also will benefit from a grant and foundation-supported program, Vision to Learn, according to Robert Isherwood, co-director of special education.
Through Vision to Learn, a California-based nonprofit, Isherwood said a mobile eye clinic will come to the district in the fall and do free vision screenings for students. Students found in need of eyeglasses will be able to get them for free.
All district students will be eligible. Parents can opt out their children if they want, Isherwood said.
Isherwood said Highlands qualified for the program based on its poverty and need levels.
The school board is expected to vote on an agreement with Vision to Learn when it meets at 7 p.m. Jan. 20 in the library at Highlands High School.
Brian C. Rittmeyer, a Pittsburgh native and graduate of Penn State University's Schreyer Honors College, has been with the Trib since December 2000. He can be reached at brittmeyer@triblive.com.
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