Press Releases
Pascrell Announces $2.5 Million in Federal Funding For Paterson's Public Schools 15 & 6
Washington, DC,
December 8, 2015
Tags:
Education
Congressman visits Paterson's Public School 15 to announce funding for the Full Service Community Schools Program Continuing in his commitment to revitalize education and the Paterson community, U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ) today visited Public School 15 to announce $2.5 million in federal funding through the U.S. Department of Education’s Full Service Community Schools (FSCS) Program. The grant provides $500,000 per year for five years, to be divided between Public Schools 15 and 6. “We all know that educating our children is a community effort. It is not something that stops outside the classroom walls,” Pascrell said. “As a former educator myself, I understand the importance of providing comprehensive programming that addresses the unique needs of the community. In 2010, the Department of Education named Paterson as one of its grantees under its Full Service Community Schools Program. Paterson received $2.3 million over five years under the program and created three FSCSs in the district. In 2012, $500,000 was awarded for the conversion of Schools 6 and 15, bringing the total FSCS schools to five. In July 2015, Public School 15 and Public School 6 received nearly $500,000 and $250,000 for an expansion of the program. Programs and services provided by the schools include: in-school clinic with medical, dental and mental health services, in school academic assistance, afterschool program, evening youth and community center, college bound/career program, anti-bullying/violence prevention, summer youth employment, school day and afterschool sports, fitness, and nutrition programs, family nights, science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) programs, performing and visual arts, adult literacy and ESL, youth ESL and literacy clubs, adult and youth GED, workforce development, emergency food, and housing services, and assistance for disabled youth and adults, immigrants and the hearing impaired. “Our school district here in Paterson is being aggressive about this bold vision for the future. We want to be a leader in educating young people in an urban environment, and lead the way in community engagement. That’s why I am so proud to be here announcing another $2.5 million grant that will be put to use over the next five years,” Pascrell said. The program incorporates external funding from community groups including NJCDC, the Paterson YMCA, Paterson Education Foundation, St. Paul’s Community Development Center, Catholic Family & Community Services, Paterson Public Library, Clinical Outreach Services LLC, and the Children’s Aid Society. “When a school becomes the ‘hub’ to help meet the diverse needs (health, social, and academic) of a low-income urban community, the children of that community have a much greater chance for academic success,” said Paterson Public Schools Superintendent Donnie Evans, Ed. D. “This is why we launched our Full Services Community Schools initiative in 2010; and why we strive to expand these beneficial services to additional schools throughout the city. We are extremely grateful to our community school partners for their ongoing support, and to local advocates such as Congressman Pascrell who helped secure this additional program funding for two of our most-challenged schools.” |