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March
17, 2010
Schenectady
receives $6.2 million grant
from U.S. Department of Labor
Grant will fund restructuring efforts and support programs
The Schenectady City School District is receiving a $6.2 million
grant award from The U.S. Department of Labor’s Persistently
Dangerous Schools Initiative. Schenectady, identified as a
Persistently Dangerous School two years in a row, is one of six
schools nationwide to receive the award. Funds will support
programs that reduce violence and improve educational outcomes
through mentoring, alternative learning strategies, employment
and case management.
The grant-funding program must include an adult volunteer
mentoring component that integrates the other strategies.
Anti-bullying efforts, student courts, peer mediation, anger
management classes, crisis intervention strategies, increased
involvement of parents and teacher training also will play roles
in reducing violence.
Educational activities can include school restructuring efforts
and alternative learning strategies aimed at getting at the
underlying causes of violence, high dropout rates and low
student achievement.
Schenectady
High School
is currently undergoing a restructuring process for the
2010-2011 school year. Many areas of the restructuring will be
funded through the award. The overall targeted areas for
restructuring include special education, school climate,
curriculum and instruction and building organization.
Target groups include at-risk youth, such as freshmen and those
who present the greatest challenges in terms of misconduct,
truancy and poor school performance.
A part of the Schenectady High School plan focuses specifically
on freshmen and how Schenectady High School can change to help
them be more successful in school. These ideas include a
freshman academy, additional support services for freshmen and a
digital academy.
Expected outcomes for the initiative include decreased dropout
rates, a reduction in school violence and improved student
behavior and academic performance.
Congressman Tonko wrote a letter in support of the district’s
application for the grant. “This is an important grant for
Schenectady High School, which will help create a learning
environment that will help get students on the right track,”
said Tonko. “Schenectady High has come up with an impressive
plan to improve it’s graduation rate, and deal with the family
and social issues which have impacted students performance. I
want to congratulate Schenectady for working to ensure that all
the students they serve have the chance to learn and succeed.”
For more information on schools receiving this funding, visit
http://www.doleta.gov/pdf/pd_onepagers.pdf
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