Hope Public Schools Awarded Nearly $15 Million Dollar Magnet Schools Assistance Program
By Twyla Pruden, 12/6/22 9:09 AMHope Public Schools announced in October that the HPS District had been awarded a $14,999,987 Magnet Schools Assistance Program grant from the United States Department of Education. The grant will be used “to transform the entire district into a magnet district, from Pre-Kindergarten through 12th grade,” according to the announcement. The transformative plan has been dubbed the “Pathways to Hope Project.”
A “magnet school” is defined by the Merriam-Webster Dictionary as “a school with superior facilities and staff and often a specialized curriculum designed to attract pupils….” The specialized curriculum for the Pathways to Hope Project is the STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) curriculum, along with a public service and media literacy focus at applicable grade levels.
The Pathways to Hope Project had its genesis in the success of the Hope Academy of Public Service for 5-8th graders and the Collegiate Academy partnership between HPS and the University of Arkansas at Hope/Texarkana, according to HPS Superintendent Dr. Jonathan Crossley. Each Hope campus participated in the planning and development of the Pathways to Hope project and in “re-imagining” graduation.
“Imagine each student who walks across the stage at graduation already having an Associate’s Degree, a technical certificate, or the first two years of college completed,” he said. “It’s a game-changer, and not just for us – Hope Public Schools — but for the entire community. A skilled workforce is a catalyst for economic development, expanded industry, and even housing.”
Dr. Crossley said he plans to meet with each campus January 2 to continue planning for implementation of the project; and he will meet with community members January 19th at 5 p.m. at Hempstead Hall to receive input. Interested citizens, whether parents of students or not, are invited to attend that meeting.
The nearly $15 million grant funds will be received by the HPS District over a period of five years, beginning this school year. “Those funds will go directly toward students,” said Dr. Crossley. “No new buildings, no salary increases – just student opportunities and outcomes.
“However,” he said, “there is funding in the grant for new positions for magnet implementation, including a district magnet director. HPS campuses will have magnet coordinators and magnet resource teachers as well.”
Dr. Crossley said grant funds can be used for necessary equipment for areas such as engineering/robotics and music, and for student involvement and enrichment activities, including field trips.
He said that in addition to staff and community advisory groups, he has also met with a student advisory group of fifth through twelfth graders. He said the students gave him a long list of their interests and desires for program enhancements, including subjects ranging from soccer and chess to music appreciation and graphic design.
“We plan to expose students to careers available locally and outside our area through speakers and field trips,” said Dr. Crossley. “We will have opportunities for students to participate in the arts, in plays, in concerts and in other specialized programs and after-school programs. Our high school programs such as band, theater, agriculture and horticulture should be expanded.”
He said each student will receive an individualized learning plan and even newborns will be on HPS radar. Home-to-school advisors will contact new parents following a child’s birth to help them begin to think about their child’s educational journey, as well as their own. If a parent needs to complete a high school education or help in finding employment, the advisors will be able to provide information.
Speaking of employment, Dr. Crossley said 36 students are currently in the Bobcat Works paid internship program at Hope High School and that program should also grow. A foundation to provide college scholarships to graduating students at Hope High School has been created and an effort is being made to raise $2 million for an endowment fund to provide that “next level” for HPS students, according to Dr. Crossley.
“We want the community to be involved in our Pathways to Hope Project,” he said. “With community support, we hope to use this project to eradicate the cycle of poverty and break the school-to-prison pipeline that is prevalent throughout the country. We can do it through education leading to employment.”
The Hope Public School District is one of only 19 recipients, across 12 states, of the federal Magnet Schools Assistance Program grant for 2022 – and the only Arkansas recipient. Little Rock, Texarkana and Hot Springs school districts have been previous recipients.
