The 21st Century Charter School of Gary is the recipient of a federal school improvement grant, along with the Dr. Bernard C. Watson Academy for Boys, a Gary Community School Corp. elementary.
The Indiana Department of Education awarded the Title 1 School Improvement Grants to just three Indiana schools from a field of 10 applicants. The grants are aimed at turning around the state’s lowest performing schools, based on established reform models.
Watson Academy, which will receive $1,915,461, opted for the turnaround model and will replace its principal and 50 percent of its teachers.
21st Century, which will received $1,112,147, will use the transformational model which focuses on establishing a new evaluation system to reward good teachers.
If schools meet their goals, the funds will be awarded over a three-year period.