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Richardson County Schools Awarded Sixpence Grants

By Matthew Leaf

12/05/2013

(KTNC) - Two Richardson County school districts are among eight in the state of Nebraska to receive grants that will benefit at-risk babies and toddlers. The Falls City and Humboldt-Table Rock-Steinauer School Districts received grants from the Sixpence Early Learning Fund.
The Sixpence program is designed to meet the developmental needs of at-risk children, from birth to age three.
Judi Carter and Kathy Martin wrote the grant for the Falls City School District.
The grant is for a total of $250,000 – which includes $25,000 for start-up costs, $75,000 for the first six months, and $150,000 for the next year.
With those funds, the Falls City School District will hire one person full-time and one part-time person who will go into homes of qualifying children from birth to three years of age and provide curriculum that will help prepare the children for pre-school. Kathy Martin will supervise the grant.
Carter says the program will go beyond working with the children, but will also provide monthly training for parents in things like car and home safety.
Carter says there are four ways a family can qualify for the program offered through the grant. That includes those who qualify for free or reduced lunch, non-native English speakers, if the baby is born prematurely or with a low birth weight, or if the parent is not a high school graduate or is under 20 years of age.
Sixpence programs are now serving approximately 500 babies and toddlers in 25 Nebraska communities and their families. The grants are funded through a combination of public and private dollars.
The Falls City School District is collaborating with several organizations on the program, including SENCA Head Start, Community Medical Center, the Department of Health and Human Services, ESU 4, the Southeast Early Learning Connection, the Falls City Area Ministerial Association, Southeast District Health Department, and the Falls City Library and Arts Center.
The HTRS School District received a grant for a similar family engagement program through a partnership with SENCA.
Other grants were awarded to schools in Aurora, Central City, Grand Island, Kearney, Ord, and St. Paul.

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