The Vernon Parish School Board has been awarded a generous grant in the amount of $2 million.
The grant was awarded by the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) Educational Partnership through the promoting student achievement at schools impacted by military force structure changes. The Vernon Parish School District was chosen because it supports students with families stationed at Fort Polk.
General James C. Yarbrough said the grant will be beneficial to both the post and the community.
"Just last month, the Vernon Parish School System was one of the signers to the reaffirmation of the Army Community Covenant. This educational partnership grant will further the goals of that covenant and allow us and the school system to strengthen our working relationship," Yarbrough said. "It is difficult to overstate the value education has in our society, and we are pleased with the commitment the Department of Defense Education Activity has shown to the administrators, teachers, parents and students of the Vernon Parish School System."
The grant focuses on enhancing student learning opportunities, achievement and educator professional development at military-connected schools with projected military student growth between 2007 and 2009 due to force structure changes. This data is based on a report to congress on assistance to local education agencies for defense dependents education published in March of 2008. School districts serving 22 military installations identified through that report were invited to submit a grant proposal.
"The Vernon Parish School System is pleased to have this opportunity to improve education for our military and non military students," Superintendent Jackie Self said. "This project will assist teachers in determining the strengths and weaknesses of students moving into our district."
"It will also improve student achievement through the implementation of powerful instruction and will provide a student advisory program for transitioning students," Self added.
The overachieving goal of "Student Engagement - Creating a Culture of High Academic Achievement" is improving teaching and learning through the implementation of job-embedded professional development centered around the components of professional learning communities, powerful instruction, and culturally and academically relevant environments for the schools significantly impacted by military student population.
This is the first year DoDEA has been able to execute its grant program.
"It's very gratifying to be able to offer assistance to the schools that are educating our military's children," said Dr. Shirley Miles, the Director of DoDEA.
Dr. Miles also said that she is looking forward to seeing how the receiving districts implement the programs that have been developed.
"We know that all the children in the grant recipient districts will benefit from these awards," she said. 
DoDEA's aim is to enhance the education of military students, but funds may be used to raise student achievement for all students.
In 2007, the John Warner National Defense Authorization Act allowed DoDEA to expand its reach to the approximately 92 percent of military students that do not attend DoDEA schools. Through collaboration with the Department of Education, DoDEA is working to ease the transition of military students and providing resources to Local Education Agencies (LEAs) who educate military dependent students.
DoDEA consists of the Department of Defense Dependents Schools located overseas and the Department of Defense Domestic Dependent Elementary and Secondary Schools located in the U.S. and its territories and possessions.
DoDEA provides education to eligible DoD military and civilian dependents from pre-kindergarten through grade 12. It also provides support and resources to local education activities throughout the U.S. that serve children of military families.