Appalachian State University and Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools have formed a new partnership through the Equity-Centered Pipeline Initiative.
The five-year, $102-million initiative is sponsored by the Wallace Foundation, which is working with seven other school districts across the country.
The goal is to help school systems advance their districts' equity plans by preparing principals to meet those objectives through coursework, resources, and training. The Winston-Salem/Forsyth County district is the only one in North Carolina selected to participate.
The University of North Carolina at Greensboro and the N.C. Department of Public Instruction are also partners in the program.
It's not the first collaboration between the university and the local school system. The Appalachian State University Academy at Middle Fork opened in Walkertown three years ago.
It serves about 300 elementary students and is a joint effort with Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools.