A grant from the U.S. Department of Education is allowing Kentucky State University to increase the number of students attending college.
With the national funding, the university can begin preparing students for higher education as early as middle school, Linda Crady, interim director of the KSU Educational Talent Search Program, told Franklin County Board of Education members at the boards work session Monday night.
The whole goal (of the program) is to encourage students to enter postsecondary education, Crady said.
KSUs Educational Talent Search Program is part of a trio of programs offered by the university to assist students as they shift from middle school to high school and then from high school to college.
Students selected for the program in middle school are assigned a counselor who then follows the student through middle school and high school as well as into college.
We offer encouragement, mentoring them, helping them move from one grade to the next, Crady said.
Program students participate in one workshop a month. Workshop sessions focus on personal as well as educational development.
We hope to help them understand there are resources out there and to apply for college, Crady said.
Any student in Franklin County schools is eligible to apply for the program, but two-thirds of those accepted must come from low-income families and be first-generation college students.
We are in the process of meeting with students in the schools and talking to students, Crady said. They do not have to be low-income, the other third can come from any population.
The grant provides KSUs talent program $1 million over a four-year span and caters to 16 middle and high schools in five counties, including Carroll, Henry, Washington and Nelson Counties.
Board chairwoman Pat Fannin commended KSUs approach to aiding students through education and into college.
Im so pleased Kentucky State is an institution putting it into place, Fannin said.
In other business, the board discussed upcoming legislative issues with state Rep. Derrick Graham, D-Frankfort.
School facilities were among the issues, including maintaining the current 10-cent tax toward facility improvements.
No one likes paying taxes but if you can see what its going for youre more likely to support it, board member Doug Crowe said.
Graham said the school district is putting the facility tax to good use.
I think the county school system right now is in the best shape its been in facility-wise, Graham said. I dont think any parent is dissatisfied with what we have.
Crowe mentioned needs for additional funding for the upkeep of the districts facilities.
Its good to have a great facility but you also have to take care of it, he said.
Board member Linda LaFontaine said funding is always an issue, especially when the legislature enacts requirements, such as raises, which need extra money.
Things Im concerned about is when the legislature mandates certain things we have to do, she said.
LaFontaine said the legislature should also consider letting districts provide alternative education methods to allow more students jobs and postsecondary education. She said the center for technology and internships would aid student transition out of high school.
Graham agreed.
I would like for us to be able to build a career tech center midway between the high schools that serves not only the county schools but also the city schools, he said.
Fannin said funding is not the only issue the legislature should consider once it goes into session.
Were limited by funds, but in the community we need freedom to design a program for our kids, she said.