Board approves $4.54 million Student Investment Account grant for 2025–27

The Phoenix-Talent School District board on April 16 approved the 2025–27 Student Investment Account (SIA) grant agreement, accepting a biennial allocation of $4,540,218.29 aimed at supporting students' mental and behavioral health, raising academic achievement and reducing historically identified disparities.

“A purpose of this grant is to provide funding to assist in: Meeting students' mental and behavioral health needs Increase academic achievement Reduce academic disparities,” said Aaron Santi, Administrator of Magnet Programs, Assessment, and Evaluation, as he summarized the grant’s goals and state reporting requirements. Santi described quarterly and annual reporting requirements tied to the award.

Superintendent Brent Barry said the district will await clarifying guidance from the Oregon Department of Education to place reporting deadlines on the district's annual calendar. The board approved the grant by motion (mover: Dawn Watson; second: Polly Farrimond); the motion carried with six yeas and one member absent.

The SIA funding derives from the Student Success Act of 2019 and is directed by state rules identifying student populations for targeted support, including economically disadvantaged students, students from racial or ethnic groups that have experienced disparities, students with disabilities, English learners, students who are homeless, and foster children, per ORS 327.180(2)(b). The district will include specific targets such as four- and five-year graduation cohorts, ninth-grade on-track measures, third-grade ELA proficiency and regular attender metrics in its reporting.

Next steps include staff finalizing the district’s expenditure plan consistent with state guidance and submitting required reports to the Department of Education on the quarterly and annual timelines.