Archived: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AWARDS GRANTS TO HELP REDUCE EXPULSIONS AND SUSPENSIONS

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AWARDS GRANTS
TO HELP REDUCE EXPULSIONS AND SUSPENSIONS

U.S. Secretary of Education Richard W. Riley today announced nearly $10 million in new support for school districts and other nonprofit groups to create effective alternative programs that can help reduce or prevent suspensions and expulsions in schools and to help educate students who have been suspended or expelled.

"No child should ever be denied an education," Riley said. "Giving up on troubled young people makes for a missed opportunity ? they deserve more than being dismissed or ignored. Strong alternative programs and strategies such as these funded today can reduce the factors that lead young people into poverty and crime and encourage them to stay in school, graduate and become productive members of society."

Riley noted that some high-quality programs are already working in communities across the country, but he added that many communities are seeking ways to improve or develop such programs. Grant applicants for the Alternative Strategies to Reduce Student Suspensions and Expulsions and Ensure Educational Progress Program were required to describe their plans for sharing information about their programs, including using technology, so that projects can help stimulate improvements and broaden the use of effective alternative education strategies.

The focus of the funding is twofold: to decrease the number of suspensions and expulsions and to ensure continued educational progress for suspended and expelled students through the use of high-quality, effective programs and strategies that work. The funds may not be used for start up of alternative schools.

Every year, thousands of students are suspended or expelled from school for some period of time. Students are generally offered a range of education services: education in another district school; placement in an alternative school, an after-school or Saturday program; school work to be done at home; and other options. But many expelled or suspended students are not provided any education services during this time, which can mean academic failure, dropping out, or increases in criminal or violent behavior or drug use.

Riley said that while there is no single strategy that ensures an effective alternative setting, there are promising characteristics including: small class size; clearly stated mission; measurable program goals and discipline codes; parental involvement; caring faculty that receives continual staff development; school staff with high expectations for student achievement; learning programs specific to the students? expectations and learning styles; exposure to and preparation for the world of work; flexible school schedules with community support; and total commitment to each student?s success.

Those eligible to apply for the grants included public and private non-profit organizations and individuals. The projects are funded for one year with continued funding based on substantial progress.

Arkansas
Little Rock	Kiwanis Activities, Inc. Contact: Sanford Tollette (501) 821-3714	$576,891
California
San Francisco	WestEd Contact: Cynthia Peck (714) 648-0333	$749,994
Colorado
Loveland	Thomson R2J School District Contact: Howard Wenger (970) 613-5302	$568,440
Kansas
Topeka	Topeka Public Schools, USD 501 Contact: Bill Bagshaw (785) 575-6100	$564,838
Massachusetts
Boston	Boston Public Schools Contact: Elliot Feldman (617) 635-8035	$750,000
Minnesota
St. Cloud	St. Cloud Area School District 742 Contact: Kathy Dahlberg (320) 202-6821	$491,273
North Carolina
Bryson City	Southwestern NC Economic and Development Planning Commission Contact: Suzanne Evans (828) 488-9211	$ 718,685
Halifax	Halifax County Schools Contact: Willie J. Gilchrist (252) 583-5111	$1,072,364
Raleigh	Wake County Public School System Contact: Lee Stanley (919) 850-1650	$712,626
New York
Syracuse	Center for Community Alternatives, Inc. Contact: Marsha Weissman (315) 422-5638	$620,661
Pennsylvania
Drexel Hill	Upper Darby School District Contact: Merle Horowitz (610) 789-7200	$577,525
Lancaster	School District of Lancaster Contact: Stacy Galiatsos (717) 291-6149	$656,300
Tennessee
Chattanooga	University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Contact: Morris Burnham (423) 755-4431	$541,805
Washington
Walla Walla	Children?s Home Society of Washington Contact: Dan Ferguson (509) 529-2130	$749,737

TOTAL		$9,351,139

###

A r c h i v e d I n f o r m a t i o n