DoDEA Grants in PWCS
As a school division, PWCS was awarded grants from the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) in 2013, 2015, 2019, and 2023. These grants provide direct support to schools with a high percentage of military-connected students.
The Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) Military Connected Academic Support Program (MCASP) awarded PWCS a $1 million grant. The PWCS 2023 DoDEA grant is Operation Strong Hearts and Minds. This grant directly supports approximately 8,000 students in the following highly impacted military schools: Ashland, Covington-Harper; Henderson, Kyle Wilson, Leesylvania, Marshall, Mary Williams, Old Bridge, Springwoods, and Westridge elementary schools. The 2023-24 school year is a planning year, followed by four years of program implementation from 2025-28.
The goal of Operation Strong Hearts and Minds is to establish/re-establish advanced science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) skills of military-connected students and to strengthen their social-emotional skills. Hands-on, collaborative science experiences provide real-world opportunities for students to develop not only academic skills but also social-emotional competencies. All students in these 10 schools will benefit from this DoDEA grant.
The proposed activities of Operation Strong Hearts and Minds are aligned with the PWCS Vision 2025 Launching Thriving Futures Strategic Plan and core commitments of providing academic excellence by ensuring learning and achievement for all and curating a positive climate and culture.
The College, Career, and Student Support Department continues to supervise the implementation and outcomes of all DoDEA MCASP projects. PWCS appreciates the resources and opportunities DoDEA K-12 Partnership grants provide for students.
The DoDEA is a field activity of the Office of the Secretary of Defense. DoDEA's mission is to plan, direct, coordinate, and manage the education programs for eligible dependents of U.S. military personnel and civilian personnel of the Department of Defense. The DoDEA has congressional authority to provide resources to public schools to support the continuity of education for military-connected students through a competitive grant program. DoDEA’s vision of “Excellence in education for every student, every day, everywhere” is realized through this partnership with public school districts.
For more information, contact DoDEA Project Director, Dr. Deborah Ransom, at [email protected].