Education Secretary Announces $19.78 Million Awarded to Enhance Academic Opportunities for At-Risk Students

HARRISBURG, Pa., July 11, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Secretary of Education Ron Tomalis today announced the 61 awardees that will receive a total of $19.78 million as part of the 21st Century Community Learning Challenge Grant.

"The intent of this grant is to fund the establishment and sustainability of community learning centers that provide additional educational services to students in high-poverty and low-performing schools," Tomalis said. "The entities which were selected to receive funding provide educational opportunities that complement, supplement and enhance the work being done in the classroom."

In response to the Pennsylvania Department of Education's request for grant proposals, 101 applications were received. Grant awardees were determined by the Department of Education through a competitive application process.

"As a requirement of the grant, the entities which applied for funding offer students a variety of enrichment opportunities that they might not receive at school or at home," Tomalis said. "In addition to academic programs, awardees may provide cultural, social or artistic activities to students, as well as services to the families of participants."

Applications for the grants were reviewed and scored by a panel of representatives from the educational field and professional grant writers, who made recommendations to the Department of Education. As part of the requirements, awardees had to be representative of the geographical regions of Pennsylvania and were ranked within eight geographic regions.

Of the applications received by the Department of Education, 61 applicants were chosen to receive the federally funded grant, including 33 community-based organizations; 15 school districts; eight charter schools; four intermediate units; and one faith-based organization.

"Unfortunately, in Pennsylvania there are too many students trapped in schools that are not meeting their academic, social and emotional needs," Tomalis said. "Though there are promising efforts underway to improve the educational landscape for all students, the education of our young people requires the support of the entire community. I am grateful that Pennsylvania's students have organizations and community leaders who are willing to step-up and support them in their educational endeavors."

Editor's Note: Below is the list of winners and the award amount for the 2012-13 fiscal year:

Allegheny County
Boys & Girls Clubs of Western Pennsylvania, $322,288
Carlynton School District, $108,000
Communities In Schools of Pittsburgh-Allegheny County, Inc. $499,624
Higher Achievement Pittsburgh, $63,146
Hill House Association, $400,000
McKeesport Area Technology Center, $308,120
Pittsburgh School District, $286,867
Propel Charter School-Homestead, $233,023
The Consortium for Public Education, $494,408
Wilkinsburg Borough School District, $369,589
Wireless Neighborhoods, $440,000
Youth Places/Tides Center, $197,987

Bedford County
Bedford Area School District, $388,987

Bucks County
Lower Bucks Family YMCA, $194,997
Morrisville Borough School District, $499,978
United Way of Bucks County, $364,000

Cambria County
Communities In Schools of the Laurel Highlands, Inc., $84,237

Chester County
Coatesville Area School District, $252,793

Crawford County
Titusville YMCA, $500,000

Delaware County
Chester-Upland School District, $158,309
Southeast Delco School District, $377,320

Erie County
Erie City School District, $500,000
Self Help Associates, $429,600

Fayette County
East End Community Center, $133,753

Indiana County
Armstrong/Indiana (ARIN) Intermediate Unit 28, $147,520
United School District, $500,000

Lackawanna County
Northeastern Educational Intermediate Unit 19, $275,740

Lancaster County
La Academia-The Partnership Charter School, $207,778
Lancaster School District, $500,000

Lehigh County
Casa Guadalupe Center, $82,699
Communities In Schools of the Lehigh Valley, $499,926

Lycoming County
Bradford, Lycoming, Sullivan and Tioga (BLaST) Intermediate Unit 17, $333,000
Williamsport Area School District, $291,249

Montgomery County
Carson Valley Children's Aid, $120,000
Norristown Area School District, $486,606
Pottstown School District, $500,000

Northumberland County
Shikellamy School District, $399,317

Philadelphia County
Allegheny West Foundation, $180,000
City Year Inc., $292,786
Communities In Schools of Philadelphia, Inc., $500,000
Congreso de Latinos Unidos, Inc., $499,999
Education Works, $500,000
Esperanza Academy Charter High School, $278,376
Foundations Inc., $432,000
Girard College, $158,532
KIPP Philadelphia Charter School, $149,852
New Kingdom Baptist Church, $486,000
Northern Home for Children, $90,000
Olney Charter High School, $499,058
Oxford Circle Christian Community Development Association, $149,937
Philadelphia Arts in Education Partnership, $451,100
Richard Allen Preparatory Charter School, $112,500
Scholarship in Progress, $383,478
Sunrise of Philadelphia, Inc., $328,429
To Our Children's Future With Health Inc., $305,616
United Communities Southeast Philadelphia, $96,000
Widener Partnership Charter School, $114,061
Young Scholars Frederick Douglas Charter School, $480,000

Washington County
Connect Inc., $499,986

Westmoreland County
PIC of Westmoreland-Fayette, $500,000

York County
YWCA of Hanover, $346,429

Tim Eller, 717-783-9802

SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Education

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