Local charter school receives $1.25 million expansion grant
Published at | Updated at
The following is a news release from American Heritage Charter School.
IDAHO FALLS — American Heritage Charter School (AHCS) has been selected by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Innovation and Improvement to receive a $1.25 million grant to enhance its programs and expand enrollment. This federal grant program is designed to help with the opening, replication and growth of high-performing charter schools.
“We are grateful and very excited to receive this grant, which recognizes the tremendous success we’ve had in our first five years and the need to increase opportunity and access for more students,” said Deby Infanger, school founder and chairman of the American Heritage board of directors.
AHCS received the good news by telephone call from Senator Mike Crapo’s office.
“We are grateful to Senator Crapo, Senator Jim Risch, Congressman Mike Simpson, and Congressman Raul Labrador for their leadership and support of Idaho charter schools,” said Jim Dalton, AHCS executive director and grant project director. “We need to keep innovating in Idaho education and increase access to what public Charter schools can offer,” Dalton said.
Dalton noted that because charters don’t receive local property tax money, without public and private grant programs like this one, the cost of start-up and expansion too often stifles innovation.
Tiffnee Hurst, AHCS Federal Programs director and grant administrator reported, “We will use this grant to grow our elementary and secondary enrollment, provide expeditionary learning opportunities, enhance our business and entrepreneurism program, and improve access to early college and other advanced opportunities for high school students.”
Shawn Rose, AHCS high school principal added, “With the help of this grant, AHCS high school students will not just read about business principles but see and experience them in practice. They won’t just plan for college, but actually take college classes during their junior and senior years. Our enhanced programs will be challenging but very rewarding for students willing to put in the time and effort to succeed.”
American Heritage Charter is one of 32 charter schools, nationwide, selected for the grant program, and the only Charter school in Idaho to receive funding. The AHCS expansion project is funded 100% by the nearly $1.25 federal million grant, which will be disbursed $249,990 per year over five years.
American Heritage Charter School provides a free, rigorous and patriotic education for students in grades K-12. It is located in the historic New Sweden School building at 1736 S. 35th West, Idaho Falls, ID 83402. For more information about the grant, click here.