NEWS--

For immediate release

April 21, 2008

Kennedy High School awarded $100,000

state counseling grant

Bloomington Kennedy High School was one of 23 Minnesota schools to be awarded a state grant to expand and enhance academic counseling and advising for students entering high school. Kennedy's $100,000 grant is part of $1.8 million in grants awarded this month by the Minnesota Office of Higher Education.

Kennedy High School will use the grant funding to develop postsecondary educational plans for 350 ninth-grade students that "enable them to see the relevance of their classes for their future aspirations," said Kristen Krenz, dean of students and author of the grant application. The high school will also establish a welcoming center to provide a positive experience for enrolling students and a site for students to have their future plans immediately addressed.

"This will allow us to better prepare our ninth graders academically for postsecondary opportunities and improve parent and student satisfaction with those options," said Krenz.

All grant winners must work with community partners to enhance their programs for students. Grantees are required to match at least 50 percent of the grant award through collaborative work from postsecondary institutions, business and industry, and community organizations. Kennedy High School is partnering with Normandale Community College, Hennepin Technical College, Bloomington Rotary Club, Park-Nicollet Clinics, Educational Talent Search, and the school's Faith Community Team.

Funding for the grants was approved in the 2007 legislative session and signed by Gov. Tim Pawlenty.

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