Houston ISD receives $47 million grant, the largest in recent memory

Students and parents pass by tables with giveaways and information at the Southside Takeover event at Worthing High School for schools participating in HISD's ACHIEVE 180 initiative Saturday, Aug. 19, 2017 in Houston. less Students and parents pass by tables with giveaways and information at the Southside Takeover event at Worthing High School for schools participating in HISD's ACHIEVE 180 initiative Saturday, Aug. 19, 2017 in ... more Photo: Michael Ciaglo, Houston Chronicle Photo: Michael Ciaglo, Houston Chronicle Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Houston ISD receives $47 million grant, the largest in recent memory 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

Houston ISD has received what could be the largest grant the district has ever been awarded.

The district got a total of three grants totaling $60 million, including one for $47 million that will fund the district's efforts to recruit and retain teachers and administrators for its longest-struggling schools.

Six Houston ISD schools will benefit from a $15 million grant awarded to the district to improve science, technology, engineering and math - or STEM - magnet education. A $1.3 million grant will help fund professional development for music and fine-arts teachers who work in high-poverty schools.

Superintendent Richard Carranza said the grants will help the district create more rigorous academic options for students and families.

“We are grateful for these grants, and we believe they will only further our effort to produce true Global Graduates ready to make their mark on the world,” Carranza said in a written statement.

The largest of the three grants that HISD won, the Teacher and School Leader grant, will fund efforts beyond retaining and attracting high-quality teachers and school leaders. It will also pay for extra compensation for teachers at 44 of Houston ISD's poorest schools, as well as additional services for students at them. The schools will be able to use the funds to hire an additional counselor, social worker or other service provider trained to assist students who need crisis intervention, behavioral support, and counseling services.

Most of the 44 campuses are part of the district's "Achieve 180" campus turnaround plan, which aims to provide more support and resources to Houston ISD's longest-struggling and poorest schools in an effort to increase student achievement.

“This grant, in many ways, can serve as an equalizer,” Leadership Development Officer Dawn DuBose-Randle said. “We’re going to be able to make a difference in the lives of our students. It will help us to be sure we have the best teachers in some of the schools that may need extra attention. It will help us to not only meet their academic needs, but also their social and emotional needs.”

The Houston ISD board must approve the grants next month before the district can formally accept the funds.