St. Paul schools get $3M to train school leaders
Five schools in St. Paul identified this year as among the state's worst performers are getting more than $3 million to boost leadership.
The federal funding is in addition to money awarded last week for efforts to turn those schools around.
The money will fund efforts to help leaders at Maxfield Elementary and Humboldt High in the St. Paul District, along with three charter schools: St. Paul City Charter, St. Paul High School for the Recording Arts, and Urban Academy.
Suzanne Kelly with the St. Paul School District says these new funds will pay for professional development to boost the skills of principals and others leading these schools.
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"To have this opportunity to broaden their scope, if you will, and bring in those leadership qualities and skill-building opportunities only strenghtens the work they're already doing," said Kelly.
Kelly says education funding usually pays for classroom instruction and teacher development -- but developing good principals is also crucial.
"Educational research is clear that strong principal leadership is right up there in terms of quality teaching with what's needed to turn schools around," she said.
The money was awarded through the U.S. Department of Education's School Leadership Grant program and was one of 14 awards announced by the agency on Tuesday.