The Ames Community School District will receive $1.8 million in supplemental funding from the state to help with students who are being pushed or pulled out of school.

The Ames School Board approved the addition to its dropout prevention services, bringing its total budget to $2.4 million for next school year. To receive the supplemental funding, however, the district must match 25% of the new funding, which is just less than $600,000.

“At-risk students in the Ames CSD are served by a large group of experienced staff members who work collaboratively with classroom teachers to help meet the academic and personal/social/career needs of students,” according to the board’s agenda.

The district has three services within the Dropout Prevention Program:

• Alternative Learning Program: supplemental instruction for students in middle and high school
• School and family counselors: services provided are individualized for each student, which can include intervention, tracking and facilitating after-school tutoring programs
• SUCCESS: a program that focuses on social intervention for elementary students by providing supplementary instruction to support literacy success

In other business

• The board approved a request for $651,239 from the state in modified growth for increased open enrollment.
• The board approved a request for $66,554 from the state for the limited English proficiency program.
• The board approved just more than $2,000 of gifts for the district — including about $800 to Hope Food Pantry and $1,000 to the Ames High choirs.
• What’s next: The school board’s next meeting will be Jan. 12, 2026.