7 New York School Districts Win Grants to Boost Students

Seven school districts in New York's mid-Hudson Valley just got a major boost to help their students thrive.

The districts, spanning Orange, Dutchess, Ulster, and Sullivan counties, qualified for federal School Improvement Grants after being identified as places where certain student groups need extra support. Now they're receiving over $3.3 million combined to make real changes in how they serve kids.

The money will fund programs that actually make a difference in students' daily lives. Districts are planning new tutoring services, summer learning programs, teacher training on better teaching methods, and ways to get families more involved in their kids' education.

Poughkeepsie, Newburgh, Kingston, Monticello, Liberty, Fallsburg, and Goshen school districts all made the list. Each one gets targeted help based on what their students need most, from improving reading skills in elementary school to helping middle schoolers who are falling behind.

The Bright Side

School leaders are embracing this as an opportunity rather than a setback. "We don't look at this as a negative," said Ivan Katz, superintendent of Fallsburg schools. "We look at this as an opportunity for us to hone the art of education and to improve student achievement across all levels."

Patrick Sullivan, Liberty's superintendent, pointed out that standardized tests only capture one moment in time. The real goal is building students' skills and confidence over years, not just test scores.

The grants range from $145,500 for Goshen to over $1 million for Kingston. Goshen is using its funding to focus on foundational reading skills, while Monticello's $691,200 will support improvements across three schools.

Newburgh celebrated recent wins too. For the first time in over a decade, all of the district's elementary schools are in good standing, showing that focused support really works.

The funding comes through the federal Every Student Succeeds Act, which requires states to identify schools where certain groups of students, including those with disabilities or from low-income families, aren't making enough progress. Instead of punishing those schools, the law provides resources to help them improve.

These seven districts are now getting exactly what they need to turn things around for the students who need it most.