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Pennsylvania Education Secretary Announces Record Level of Funding for Community Learning Centers

Posted on: Thursday, 25 October 2007, 15:00 CDT

HARRISBURG, Pa., Oct. 25 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Seventy-two community learning centers in Pennsylvania will be able to offer afterschool programs and other activities with the release of nearly $19 million in federal grants, Education Secretary Gerald L. Zahorchak announced today.

The funding, provided through the 21st Century Community Learning Centers program administered by the U.S. Department of Education, represents the largest amount ever given in Pennsylvania under the program.

"These grants will benefit children and families across the state," Zahorchak said. "Young people who take part in afterschool programs often show increased academic achievement, improved attendance and study habits, and stronger connections to their schools and communities."

Community learning centers funded through the program provide academic, artistic, and cultural activities to students and their families when school is not in session, including before and after school as well as during holidays and summer breaks. The primary goal of these centers is to help students meet state and local standards for core subjects, such as reading and mathematics, by providing them with academic enrichment opportunities.

In addition to academics, centers also can offer services and programs including art, music, character education, drug and violence prevention, recreational activities and technology education. Supplementary services for parents, such as literacy instruction, also may be provided.

The amount of funding awarded depends on the scope of services described in the application, the number of participants to be served and the special needs demonstrated by the targeted student population. Grants are awarded at a $50,000 minimum to ensure they are sufficient to support high quality, effective programs.

While only first-year funding has been announced, grantees are selected for a funding period that runs from Nov. 1, 2007, to June 30, 2010. Continued funding is contingent upon adequate performance and the availability of federal funding.

Among the organizations that are eligible to apply for the program are schools and school districts, community-based organizations, city or county government agencies, faith-based organizations, family centers, higher education institutions, for-profit corporations or consortia of two or much such organizations.

For more information on afterschool programs or other education initiatives, visit the Department of Education Web site at http://www.pde.state.pa.us/.

EDITOR'S NOTE: The following sites will receive grants: Agency County Amount Lincoln Intermediate Unit #12 Adams 388,841 Baldwin-Whitehall School District Allegheny 173,219 CIS of Pittsburgh-Allegheny County/Minadeo Elem. Allegheny 144,809 Heritage Health Foundation, Inc. Allegheny 473,507 Highlands School District Allegheny 100,000 Hill House Allegheny 219,999 McKeesport Area School District Allegheny 203,002 Pittsburgh School District Allegheny 351,176 Wireless Neighborhoods Allegheny 257,809 Woodland Hills School District Allegheny 141,350 YouthPlaces Allegheny 398,606 Bedford Area School District Bedford, Huntingdon 272,616 Reading School District Berks 257,176 Bristol Township School District Bucks 116,101 Morrisville School District Bucks 371,512 United Way of Bucks County Bucks 209,128 CIS of the Laurel Highlands, Inc. Cambria 125,950 Greater Johnstown School District Cambria 188,886 Lehigh Carbon Community College Carbon 135,688 Coatesville Area School District Chester 195,250 Kennett Consolidated School District Chester 130,001 Cen-Clear Child Services, Inc. Clearfield 440,232 Keystone Central School District Clinton 318,795 Southern Columbia Area School Columbia, District Northumberland 213,727 Crawford Central School District Crawford 123,500 Harrisburg School District Dauphin 186,750 Ctr. for Global Citizenship/Elizabethtown College Dauphin, Lancaster 171,437 Chester Community Charter School Delaware 135,283 Chester Upland School District Delaware 841,056 William Penn School District Delaware 127,976 Erie City School District Erie 291,500 Private Industry Council of Westmoreland/Fayette Fayette 146,210 Chambersburg Area School District Franklin 58,271 ARIN Intermediate Unit 28 Indiana 368,536 La Academia: Partnership Charter School Lancaster 61,875 Lancaster School District Lancaster 332,948 Lebanon School District Lebanon 246,992 Allentown City School District Lehigh 431,309 Hispanic American Org. & Roberto Clemente CS Lehigh 203,125 Williamsport Area School District Lycoming 197,566 Farrell School District Mercer 480,428 Norristown Area School District Montgomery 425,368 Pottstown School District Montgomery 270,377 Bethlehem Area School District Northampton 498,045 Easton Area School District Northampton 180,000 Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit Northumberland 284,982 Shikellamy School District Northumberland 251,122 Retired & Senior Volunteer Program of the Capital Region Perry 138,642 Allegheny West Foundation Philadelphia 330,162 Christopher Columbus Charter School Philadelphia 190,830 Congreso de Latinos Unidos Philadelphia 337,517 EducationWorks, Inc. Philadelphia 600,784 Foundations, Inc. Philadelphia 387,504 Girard College Philadelphia 129,926 Harambee Institute of Science & Technology CS Philadelphia 104,265 International Education & Community Initiatives Philadelphia 225,780 Mercy Neighborhood Ministries of Phila., Inc. Philadelphia 50,000 PA Academy for the Profession of Teach. & Learn. Philadelphia 68,076 Project H.O.M.E. Philadelphia 394,831 Salvation Army, Eastern PA & Delaware Div. Philadelphia 309,085 Scholarship In Progress Philadelphia 624,289 Universal Institute Charter School ** Philadelphia 183,900 University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia 641,148 Variety - The Children's Charity Philadelphia 250,959 Potter County Human Services Potter 128,171 Schuylkill Intermediate Unit 29 Schuylkill 130,786 Learning Lamp Somerset 170,317 Montrose Area School District Susquehanna 50,000 Child Development Centers, Inc. Venango 313,438 Connect, Inc. Washington Family Center Washington 208,608 Wayne Highlands School District Wayne 161,526 York City School District York 420,319 TOTAL $18,692,899 CONTACT: Michael Race (717) 783-9802

Pennsylvania Department of Education

CONTACT: Michael Race of the Pennsylvania Dept. of Education,+1-717-783-9802

Web Site: http://www.pde.state.pa.us/

Source: PRNewswire-USNewswire

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