Superintendent Barbara Deane-Williams announced the Rochester City School District has been awarded a grant in the amount of $524,559 dollars from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.

The Kellogg Foundation seeks to improve urban high-needs elementary school districts’ student outcomes in K - 3 math by scaling implementation of an effective, standards aligned, Tier 1 math curriculum that increases the amount of teacher-led, small group instruction and embeds effective professional learning for teachers.

“Powerful teaching and learning is a priority in the City School District and this grant will help us scale our implementation of higher level learning standards to improve student achievement," said Superintendent Barbara Deane-Williams.

Rochester City Schools are currently in year two of implementing Zearn Mathematics as a strategic open-source curriculum platform. The Rochester City School District will use funding to increase access to Zearn math accounts, increase professional development for teachers, and to increase parent outreach, communication and engagement.

"This grant, which is 16 months in duration, will help us work with 25 RCSD elementary schools serving 10,000 Pre K - 5 students to structure small group curriculum delivery to increase mathematics learning and achievements," said Jeff Mikols, Executive Director of Mathematics and Digital Learning for the RCSD

The W.K. Kellogg Foundation (WKKF), founded in 1930 as an independent, private foundation by breakfast cereal pioneer, Will Keith Kellogg, is among the largest philanthropic foundations in the United States. Guided by the belief that all children should have an equal opportunity to thrive, WKKF works with communities to create conditions for vulnerable children so they can realize their full potential in school, work and life.