Oklahoma Dept. Of Education Awarded $15.2 Million In Grants

The Oklahoma Department of Education announced it was awarded $15.2 million in grants.

The four federal grants will help "support districts in meeting the needs of students."

“Oklahoma has long emphasized the importance of a whole-child approach to education with an end goal of ensuring each student has the opportunity to achieve a well-rounded education,” said State Superintendent of Public Instruction Joy Hofmeister. “In a unique school year with numerous disruptions resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, it is of critical importance that we enhance supports for our students’ social-emotional, nutritional, safety and academic needs. The more than $15 million in programming and services these grants provide will be invaluable in helping Oklahoma meet those goals.” 

Officials said the largest of the four grants is nearly $9 million from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Agency.

Another one of the four grants is the nearly $6 million five-year ARTech grant. This grant will help "create online art classes for students with limited or no access to arts programming."

Hofmeister said she is grateful for the awarded grants.

“The funding provided by these grants will help ease burdens on our schools and families as we educate students amid a global pandemic,” she said.