$75K state grant awarded
A local education partnership will receive a $75,000 state grant to improve early education opportunities for at-risk elementary students.
Community Action Southwest will partner with Jefferson-Morgan Elementary School in Jefferson-Morgan School District to bridge the achievement gap for students.
“This grant award shows that Greene County is home to innovative educators and community leaders,” said state Sen. Tim Solobay, D-Canonsburg, who announced the grant along with state Rep. Pam Snyder, D-Jefferson. “The goal is to recognize and reward what is working and expand it.”
The award is part of nearly $2.7 million in Early Childhood Education Community Innovation Zone Grants awarded by the Pennsylvania departments of Public Welfare and Education to 12 communities to expand local programs that help bridge the achievement gap for at-risk young children.
“Ending the achievement gap can only happen with the cooperation of schools with the communities and families they serve,” Snyder said. “This grant recognizes that innovation is happening right here in Greene County.”
Snyder said a second partnership in her district – the Private Industry Council of Westmoreland/Fayette Inc. – received a $70,287 grant to work with Masontown Elementary School in Albert Gallatin Area School District to improve early education.
Grantees receive up to $75,000 annually to build upon and expand successful programs to connect early childhood providers, families and schools. Grantees include school districts, nonprofit organizations, universities, social services agencies, foundations and early childhood education programs.
Each grant recipient will partner with other schools, early childhood and community organizations serving children, and families near the target elementary school.
The Early Childhood Education Community Innovation Zone Grants are part of Pennsylvania’s Race to the Top Early Learning Challenge Grant.
In December 2013, Pennsylvania was awarded the $51.7 million grant. This grant builds upon Pennsylvania’s successes to provide high-quality early learning opportunities to close the achievement gap for at-risk children such as those in low-income families, English language learners, children with disabilities and developmental delays, and children experiencing homelessness.