Last fall, the East Grand Rapids Schools Foundation Board of Directors approved a grant request for $9,300 from all three elementary school principals to fund IXL, an online math program.
It almost didn’t happen.
It’s not that our board didn’t think the grant was worthwhile. Students love IXL, and it gives teachers an opportunity to enable students to work at their own pace.
It’s just that IXL, like robotics, is one of those programs that the Foundation has been funding for years. We love funding innovative grants that give students opportunities they didn’t have before, but when those programs are successful and turn into something that repeats year after year, the question becomes whether it should be funded by the Foundation or the district.
Fortunately, the Foundation and the district have a great partnership. When the principals and the district said they didn’t have funds available to pay for IXL, the Foundation stepped in. That’s how a lot of grants are funded here. Teachers, prinicipals, administrators, PTOs, and the Foundation work together to give our students every opportunity they can. If it's good for students, we’re going to do our best to figure out a way to pay for it.
Wealthy Elementary Principal Stephanie Olson is glad we found a way to fund IXL for another year. “Students developed a range of important skills, knowledge, and attitudes,” she wrote in her grant evaluation. “Academically, students strengthened their math skills through targeted, individualized practice and gained a deeper understanding of key concepts. They also built confidence in their abilities as they experienced success at their own level and received immediate feedback.
“In addition to content knowledge, students developed greater independence and ownership of their learning. They became more comfortable setting goals, persisting through challenges, and using feedback to improve.
“An unanticipated outcome was the increase in student motivation and engagement. Many students showed a more positive attitude toward math, as the personalized nature of the program allowed them to experience success more frequently. Overall, the project supported not only academic growth, but also fostered a growth mindset and a more confident approach to learning.”
The biggest benefit of all, according to Olson? “This grant allowed us to continue using IXL in our classrooms to better support each child’s learning in math. With IXL, students can practice skills at their own level, get immediate feedback, and build confidence as they grow. It helps us personalize instruction so every student is supported, challenged, and successful in their learning.”
Thank you, Foundation donors, for continuing to provide access to IXL to our students!
