June 3, 2019
Meadow Lane Elementary has earned a $212,102 Kauffman Foundation grant to support implementation of project based learning and innovative practices. This announcement comes after a competitive grant application process. The grant aims to transform instructional methods at Meadow Lane Elementary.
In collaboration with the Comprehensive Facilities Master Plan (CFMP) process and our future-ready initiatives, Meadow Lane Elementary sought out this opportunity to integrate a SMART (where Science and Math meet Art) lab steeped in project-based learning and hands-on experience.
Meadow Lane Elementary will be participating in professional development, training and coaching to help integrate the project based approach. Part of their collaboration will be with the Buck Institute for Education, the gold standard in project-based learning professional development.
Wendy Guillies, President and CEO of the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, said, “The Foundation champions bold ideas to change futures because, like our founder Ewing Kauffman, we believe every person should have the opportunity to be uncommon and take risks to achieve their goals. We first listen to the communities we serve, seek to understand the problems and dream big with partners like you to build innovative programs that drive results.”
“This work will contribute to our mission of creating solutions that empower people to be successful. Working together, we can ensure that every person has the opportunity to fulfill their dreams. We are pleased to support you in this endeavor and wish you success,” Ms. Guillies said.
“This is will be the first school in the Lee’s Summit School District receiving this calibur of monies to focus on project based learning and future ready initiatives at the elementary level. I’m thrilled for our students to continue experiencing engaging, motivating and dynamic opportunities in their learning. We are grateful for the partnership with the Kauffman Foundation to help us push forward thinking ideas and concepts,” Meadow Lane Elementary principal Dr. Sheryl Cochran said.
Meadow Lane Elementary is currently serving the largest student population of Title I students in the Lee’s Summit School District. Fifty-nine percent of the 550 students at Meadow Lane Elementary qualify for free-and-reduced lunch status. The student demographic make-up consists of 54% Caucasian students, 23% Black students, 17% Bi-racial students and 6% Hispanic students.
“It’s exciting to have the team at Meadow Lane Elementary working together to ensure intentional future ready learning opportunities and greater outcomes for our students. Their carefully developed application is deserving of the over $200,000 award and I look forward to what this will mean long-term for our students,” Superintendent Dr. Dennis Carpenter said.
The Kauffman Foundation grant will be in effect for the 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 school years. For more information about the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, visit www.kauffman.org.
