Today, USDA Rural Development State Director for Oklahoma, Kenneth Corn, announced more than $3.5 million in grant awards to support public education for schools located across Southeastern Oklahoma. Funding is a part of the Biden-Harris Investing in America Agenda to deliver critical resources to strengthen rural America.
This funding will support distance learning initiatives across the southeastern part of the state in STEM courses, language courses, law enforcement training for school resource officers and transportation needs for students.
“There is not a bigger supporter for public education than President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, especially when it comes to bridging the education gap between the imbalance in our country with school funding,” Corn said. “More importantly, as President Biden and Vice President Harris believes, your zip code should not be a roadblock to quality education and the opportunity to succeed – regardless of your economic background.”
Funding for this award is being made through USDA Rural Development Distance Learning Grant programs and Community Facilities Grant programs. The following Oklahoma entities were funded:
- Atoka Public Schools, $654,884, to deliver distance learning in scientific, technical, engineering and mathematics courses.
- Caney School District, $781,311, to deliver in collaboration with Kiamichi Tech and Boswell Public Schools, specialized STEM courses and mathematics that will support mare than 14,000 students.
- Clayton Public Schools, $50,000, for a new school bus to transport students.
- Choctaw Nation, $261,687, to deliver Choctaw Language instruction through distance learning to support 20 Oklahoma schools in Atoka, Bryan, Grayson, Haskell, Hughes, Johnston, Latimer, Le Flore, McCurtain and Pittsburg counties.
- Howe Public Schools, $979,545, to deliver STEM courses and support law enforcement training for the Le Flore County Police Department.
- Oklahoma Public School Resource Center, $867,788, to enable class sharing, professional development and more for multiple Oklahoma school districts.
“Growing up in a rural school district, I understand how important it is to give these kids every chance to have the same educational opportunities their colleagues get in Jenks, Edmond and other larger school districts that have more funding,” Corn said. “I am thankful that President Biden not only understands how important that is for rural schools, but that the Biden-Harris Administration is making every effort to level the playing field we have seen all too often in the inequities rural students and Tribal students have previously faced due to being left behind in the past.”
USDA Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities, create jobs and improve the quality of life for millions of Americans in rural areas. This assistance supports infrastructure improvements; business development; housing; community facilities such as schools, public safety and health care; and high-speed internet access in rural, Tribal and high-poverty areas. Visit the Rural Data Gateway to learn how and where these investments are impacting rural America. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov.
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