Hoboken Public School District Awarded $75,610 Grant from New Jersey Department of Education to Expand Access to N.J. Student Learning Standards Through Interdisciplinary Learning, Climate Change Studies, and Community Resilience Projects
Hoboken Public School District Awarded $75,610 Grant from New Jersey Department of Education to Expand Access to N.J. Student Learning Standards Through Interdisciplinary Learning, Climate Change Studies, and Community Resilience Projects
Hoboken, NJ — July 8, 2024 - The Hoboken Public School District is pleased to announce that it has been awarded $75,610 by the New Jersey Department of Education for its Expanding Access to Climate Change Education and NJ Student Learning Standards Grant. The district applied for this competitive grant in February 2024 and was initially awarded $31,733. Recently, the district received an additional $43,877 to achieve the goals of the grant. The overarching priorities of this grant program are to expand equitable access to high-quality, standards-based environmental education for all students and to foster student-centered, experiential learning opportunities.
STEM Supervisor, Ms. Donna D'Acunto, expressed excitement about the opportunities this grant presents. “This grant will enable the Hoboken School District to integrate comprehensive environmental and climate change studies into our curriculum and empower our students to become informed and active participants in resiliency and sustainability efforts.”
The Hoboken Public School District will use the grant funds to develop curricula and purchase instructional materials for two new courses that will be offered in September at Hoboken High School: Studies in Climate Change, Resilience, and Sustainability, and Innovation and Environmentalism. Students enrolled in these courses will study local, national, and global environmental trends, research challenges faced by the City of Hoboken, and design resilient, sustainable solutions. Principal Robin Piccapietra stated, "It is invigorating to encourage students to think critically and work collaboratively to foster responsibility and global citizenship."
These grant funds will also help further programs such as Hoboken High School’s Hydroponics & Aquaponics Initiative, which employs sustainable strategies for the growth and distribution of leafy greens, herbs, vegetables, and microgreens to families experiencing food insecurity. The funds will also allow Hoboken High School to offer more after-school Micro Institutes in the new Innovation, Science, Technology, and Entrepreneurship Lab to elementary and middle school students. These institutes immerse learners in the design-build process needed to tackle real-world problems, including those caused by environmental conditions.
Additionally, these grant funds will support Hoboken Middle School’s Hudson River Estuary Wetlab and the district’s Hudson River Explorers Program, which engages students in hands-on educational opportunities in marine biology, ornithology, environmental science, climatology, and ecology. In this program, students take part in interactive laboratories, including NJ DEP catch and release studies, water quality testing, and microscopy. Students conduct fieldwork for species identification and ecological surveys on the Hudson River through boat and kayak excursions, pier fishing and crabbing, and seining. The River Explorers Program emphasizes environmental stewardship with conservation projects and sustainability workshops.
Lastly, Hoboken Public School District teachers will receive high-quality training, as a result of this grant, through the Ramapo College Teacher Collaborative and will have access to an interactive website that includes a host of instructional resources. Ramapo College, named an epicenter for the K-12 Climate Change and Environmental Education Initiative, has established three regional training centers: The Meadowlands Environmental Center, the Great Swamp Watershed Association, and the New Jersey School of Conservation.
The Hoboken Public School District appreciates the support given by the New Jersey Department of Education. Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Christine Johnson, shared, "This investment in our students helps us build the skills and nurture the attributes of our district's graduates."
The district's grant project period will run from June 1, 2024, to May 31, 2025, aligning with the NJDOE's goal of expanding equitable access to high-quality, standards-based climate change education. To learn more about this grant, please visit the New Jersey Department of Education's website.
For more information about the Hoboken Public School District’s STEM Education initiatives, please contact Ms. Donna D’Acunto at [email protected].
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About Hoboken Public School District
The Hoboken Public School District is dedicated to providing a comprehensive and enriching educational experience for all students. With a focus on academic excellence, innovation, and community engagement, the district prepares students for success in a rapidly evolving world.