Oklahoma to get nearly $5 million education grant

Oklahoma is one of nine states selected to receive federal grant money designed to turn around poorly performing schools.

The money comes from the U.S. Department of Education's School Improvement Grants (SIG) program.

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan made the announcement Friday.

Other states receiving funds include:

• Connecticut
• Florida
• Idaho
• Iowa
• New Jersey
• Ohio
• South Dakota
• Wyoming

Sec. Duncan said "when schools fail, our children and neighborhoods suffer. Turning around our lowest-performing schools is hard work but it's our responsibility, and represents a tremendous opportunity to improve the life chances of children. We owe it to our children, their families and the broader community. These School Improvement Grants are helping some of the lowest-achieving schools provide a better education for students who need it the most."

The grants are made to State Educational Agencies which then award them to districts that "demonstrate the greatest need for the funds and the strongest commitment to provide adequate resources to substantially raise student achievement in their lowest-performing schools," according to a statement from the USDOE.\

The size of the grants awarded to each state:

• Connecticut $3,880,600
• Florida $25,969,574
• Idaho $2,016,193
• Iowa $3,028,749
• New Jersey $9,485,864
• Ohio $19,157,881
• Oklahoma $4,951,025
• South Dakota $1,440,238
• Wyoming $1,129,417