The purpose of this grant is to assist government and private sector leaders in their effort to establish a Regional Early College High School located at the Vernon James Agricultural Research Center in Washington County, NC. The Northeast Regional School for Biotechnology and Agriscience (NERSBA) is an Early College High School joint endeavor of NC State University, the NC State Board of Education, five northeastern rural school districts, and the NC New Schools Project, with strong support from the NC Department of Agriculture and the JOBS Commission. The school ultimately will include up to 500 students in grades 7-13 from five school districts. The intent of the school is to serve as a statewide model and assist in the economic, educational and social transformation of a region that has suffered drastic economic decline, loss of jobs and population, and low academic achievement since the early 1990s. Golden LEAF funds will support salaries, technology, curriculum development and textbook purchases.
