WASHINGTON – Chuck Grassley today announced that the U.S. Department of Education has awarded a grant totaling $150,000 to Kirkwood Community College under the Paraprofessional Preservice Program Improvement Grants Program.
“Kirkwood students should benefit from the opportunities this grant makes possible,” Grassley said. “Increased coursework, as well as additional real-life practice, should help better prepare these students for employment in the early childhood field.”
According to the U.S. Department of Education, the goal of this program is to enhance and expand current curriculum for preservice education for early childhood paraeducators by incorporating current research, cultural diversity, evidence-based practices, adult learning principles, formative competency-based assessment and technology into the curriculum.
Each year, thousands of local Iowa organizations, colleges and universities, individuals and state agencies apply for competitive grants and loans from the federal government. The funding is then awarded based on each local organization or individual’s ability to meet criteria set by the federal entity.