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PA Governor Rendell Says Grants Available to Help Students With Disabilities Gain Steady Employment

Posted on: Wednesday, 22 November 2006, 12:00 CST

HARRISBURG, Pa., Nov. 22 /PRNewswire/ -- Pennsylvania Governor Edward G. Rendell has awarded nearly $1 million to help high school students with disabilities successfully transition to community-based employment in 25 schools across 11 Pennsylvania counties.

"Pennsylvania has made great efforts to provide the kind of support necessary to prepare all students for success after graduating from high school," said Governor Rendell. "We must also make special efforts above and beyond the norm to help students facing exceptional challenges achieve.

"These grants are providing specialized support services for our children. I'm proud to be able to continue - and expand - this effort and help even more students."

Governor Rendell said $687,322 in state-funded grants for 2006-07 are being distributed to 17 school districts, charter schools, intermediate units, and career/technology centers. Ten of the recipients are receiving the grants for a second-consecutive year to continue their programs from 2005-06. Additionally, $246,319 in grants is being awarded for mentoring.

Students will receive support through academic and social skills instruction, community-based training programs, and essential program components including vocational assessment, career exploration, instruction in employability skills, community-based work assessment, and unpaid or paid work experience that may sometimes include job coaching.

"Governor Rendell has made an unprecedented commitment to ensure that all students have the academic and career skills necessary to graduate high school and successfully transition to higher education or the workforce," Secretary of Education Gerald L. Zahorchak said. "This year, the Governor is continuing the commitment he began last year to help students with disabilities enter the workforce. The transition program's first year produced great results, which is why we're thrilled to be able to provide the same valuable resources to benefit approximately 600 to 800 students this year."

Efforts during the 2006-07 school year will continue expanding the network of business partnerships with schools to provide opportunities for these students to learn valuable job skills on-site and enhance their chances to gain steady employment.

Under the Governor's leadership, the Department of Education launched the program during 2005-06 with $958,619 to provide employment training and placement for 330 students with disabilities. The program successfully doubled the number of students employed by the end of its first year, and:

-- Increased referrals to the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation by 42 percent; -- Helped 142 students gain employment by the end of the first year; and -- Increased the number of hours worked by 20 percent.

The program's success depends on collaborative efforts between school staff and local businesses willing to provide opportunities for students to learn on the job and potentially award jobs to students. Job coaches work with students on social skills, such as choosing proper attire and learning customer service skills. The coaches accompany students to the work site to help apply their new skills. The presence of job coaches at the work site enhances student performance and social skills, and helps students maintain longer periods of employment.

Governor Rendell has increased education investments by $1.8 billion since 2003. His 2006-07 budget increases funding for special education to $1.2 billion - an increase of $52 million (2.6 percent) over last year - to educate Pennsylvania children with special needs.

The Rendell Administration is committed to creating a first-rate public education system, protecting our most vulnerable citizens and continuing economic investment to support our communities and businesses. To find out more about Governor Rendell's initiatives and to sign up for his weekly newsletter, visit his Web site at: http://www.governor.state.pa.us/.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Below is the list of 2006-07 Year One and Year Two Transition Performance grant recipients.

2006-07 Year One Recipient County Grant Amount Wellsboro Area School District Tioga County $47,235 Colonial Intermediate Unit 20 Monroe, Northampton, Pike $46,000 Northwest Tri-County Intermediate Unit 5 Crawford, Erie, Warren $46,000 Butler Area School District Butler $43,500 Chester County Intermediate Unit 24 Chester $47,421 Allegheny County Intermediate Unit 3 Allegheny $45,666 Cocalico School District Lancaster $44,000 Year-One Grant Total: $319,822 2006-07 Year Two Recipient County Grant Amount Armstrong Indiana Intermediate Unit Armstrong, Indiana $34,500 Blair County-Bellwood- Antis School District Blair $40,000 Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit Columbia, Montour, $40,000 Northumberland, Snyder, Union School District of Lancaster Lancaster $40,000 Luzerne Intermediate Unit 18 Luzerne, Wyoming $40,000 Midwestern Intermediate Unit 4 Butler, Lawrence, Mercer $40,000 Mohawk Area School District Lawrence $35,000 School District of Philadelphia Philadelphia $41,000 Spectrum Charter School Allegheny $22,000 Westmoreland Intermediate Unit 7 Westmoreland $35,000 Year-2 Grant Total: $367,500 Mentor Grant Total: $246,319

CONTACT: Kate Philips, Pennsylvania Office of the Governor, +1-717-783-1116; or Mike Storm (Education), +1-717-783-9802.

Pennsylvania Office of the Governor

CONTACT: Kate Philips, Pennsylvania Office of the Governor,+1-717-783-1116; or Mike Storm (Education), +1-717-783-9802

Web site: http://www.governor.state.pa.us/

Source: PRNewswire

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