The Shelton School District is one of 50 districts in the State that have been selected to receive grants of $4,500 each to help with the implementation of the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) for English language arts and mathematics during spring and summer 2012. The money will be used for travel and other costs related to participation in standards workshops that are hosted by Educational Service Districts (ESDs) throughout the state. The grants are funded by Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR-UP!), a federal grant program that helps increase the number of low-income students preparing for college. A total of 75 districts applied for the grants. Priority was given to districts with 49.5 percent or more than of its students qualifying for free and reduced-priced meals and to district size so that districts of all sizes were represented. The selected districts have established CCSS district implementation teams and exhibit strong commitment by school district leaders to participate in the project in order to smoothly transition their direct to the new standards. Districts selected are from all regions of the state.