The Morenci school district has received federal Title I funding for years to help at-risk children in need of extra academic assistance. So far those funds have gone only for children through grade five, but that could be changing.

Board members learned Dec. 5 of efforts to expand the funding to cover students in all grades. 

“It’s a major undertaking,” said financial director Erica Metcalf. “There’s a huge process to go through.”

The school received a grant just to pay for a consultant to help with the application process. That alone saved the district at least $3,000.

By going school-wide, she said, a new population of students can be served. If the district is successful in broadening the program, funds would be available, for example, to hire a tutor to help a struggling algebra student.

The extra help might help a student who is falling behind and could prevent the person from dropping out of school.

The grant is partially tied to the number of students receiving free and reduced lunches.