State Awards $4M For At-Risk Bucks Students

Pennsylvania Secretary of Education Ron Tomalis recently announced the 57 schools and organizations that will receive a total of $64.4 million as part of the 21st Century Community Learning Challenge Grant.

Over $4 million of that total is marked for Bucks County.

“The purpose of these grants is to fund the establishment and sustainability of community learning centers that provide educational services to students in high-poverty and low-performing schools,” Tomalis said. “The entities which were selected to receive funding from the 21st Century Community Learning Challenge provide educational experiences that complement, supplement and fill-in the gaps of the work being done in the classroom.”

Those chosen to receive the federal funding include: 19 community-based organizations; 17 school districts; 10 charter schools; five intermediate units; three institutes of higher education; and three faith-based organizations.

Locally, awards were given to:

• Lower Bucks Family YMCA - $1,499,999
• Morrisville Borough School District - $1,497,526
• United Way of Bucks County - $1,260,000

“Throughout Pennsylvania, there are countless students who are trapped in schools that are not meeting their academic, social and emotional needs,” Tomalis said. “Efforts are being made to transform Pennsylvania’s educational establishment for the benefit of every student – however change is not occurring fast enough for a generation of students who we are failing. Thankfully, we have organizations and community leaders who willingly continue to support students in their educational endeavors after the school bell rings.”