Dr. Linda Goetze, researcher for K-3 Plus study
One of the largest grants in Aggie history has just been awarded to economist Linda Goetze, researcher for the USU-based, $20-million “New Mexico K-3 Plus Extended School Year Validation Study.”
The research project looks at summer schools’ impact on low-income children and is funded through the Investing in Innovation (i3) program, a school reform effort that was created by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
According to an article in Sunday’s Logan Herald Journal, the i3 program is planning to hand out $650 million to 49 projects. Out of 1,700 applications, Goetze’s grant is the only one awarded in Utah.
Based at schools in four New Mexico areas, the K-3 Plus study will track 2,280 kindergartners to see how they respond to a minimum of 25 additional class days attended during the summer. The students will learn reading, math, social skills, arts and physical education and have access to free breakfast and lunch. Teacher training and parent involvement are also part of the project.
Goetze and her colleagues plan to follow the children for five years to determine if the expected skill gains are cost effective. Goetze told the Herald Journal, “The evidence is that investing in education earlier is better because of brain development. Early learning can affect your whole school career.”
Dr. Goetze is delighted to receive the K-3 Plus grant. “ I am very happy because I love this program. It has great potential to help kids. That’s what makes me excited to go to work every day.”
For more information on this project, contact Dr. Cyndi Rowland, Principle Investigator.