Texas Tech, Community Partners Celebrate $24.5M Grant

Texas Tech and the Lubbock Independent School District, along with multiple community partners celebrated today (Feb. 15) the award of a $24.5 million Promise Neighborhoods grant, originally announced in December 2012 by the U.S. Department of Education.

As one of only seven Promise Neighborhood implementation grantees from across the nation, East Lubbock Promise Neighborhood consortium will receive the funding over the next five years.

“Community outreach and engagement is one of the strategic priorities for Texas Tech,” said Interim President Lawrence Schovanec. “We appreciate this opportunity to work with so many community partners to enhance the education and well being for our young people. The efforts of all those involved reflects a shared dedication and commitment to providing the very best opportunities for our youth and strengthening our community.”

The consortium is a collaboration of the Lubbock ISD, a variety of colleges and administrative units of Texas Tech, the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, United Way of Lubbock, Covenant Health System, South Plains Food Bank, United Supermarkets, and the Betenbough Charitable Foundation. The City of Lubbock, South Plains P-20 Council and Generation Texas are also partners in the project.

Completing the list of Promise Neighborhood grant recipients are the California cities of Chula Vista, Los Angeles and San Francisco, as well as Boston, Washington, D.C., and Indianola, Miss.

“We want to create a new model of American education that fosters innovation and entrepreneurship,” said Scott Ridley, dean of the Texas Tech College of Education and author of the grant. “This community-based service learning approach to education combined with a strong community – school – university – business partnership will place Lubbock, Texas at the front of a state and national movement.”

Texas Tech will serve as the anchor institution for the ELPN helping to build the collective capacity of partner institutions to serve and develop the historically underserved potential of children, families and communities in East Lubbock.

The proposed timeline is to incorporate Dunbar College Prep Middle School this year, Ervin (the combined Wheatley and Iles elementaries) in 2014 Alderson Middle School in 2015 and culminate with Estacado High School in 2016.

Education is at the core of an improved life opportunity, and this partnership is unique in the way it aligns wrap-around services with academic success,” said Karen Garza, superintendent for Lubbock ISD. “The promise of this grant is a legacy of success for our students and their families, long after this five-year program is complete.”

Promise Neighborhoods, first launched in 2010, is a community-focused program that funds local-led efforts to improve educational opportunities and provide comprehensive health, safety, and support services in high-poverty neighborhoods.

The U.S. Department of Education release can be found at Promise Neighborhood Grants.