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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 3, 2006

Schumer Announces Over $527,000 In Federal Funds Going To Niagara Falls City School District

Grant Will Be Used To Provide Extra Help For Students Struggling With Academics

U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today announced that $527,168 was awarded to the Niagara Falls City School District by the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) under the Smaller Learning Communities Grant Program. Federal dollars will be used to provide intensive instructional support to at-risk students.

"This is great news for Niagara Falls City Schools," Schumer said. "Small study groups provide students with personalized instruction that allows them to focus extensively on subject areas that have been sources of difficulty. This funding will allow students to receive the attention they need in order to achieve academic success.”

Niagara Falls City School District will use federal funds to implement an expansion of its highly successful Smaller Learning Communities initiative to build upon gains previously made in student achievement, graduation rates, and student safety. The expansion will provide intensive support in the summer prior to the start of grade 9, and throughout grades 9 and 10 as needed; expand teaching hours to 5 p.m. in core subjects; and provide a career exploration program for at-risk students. Students at risk will participate in one or more of these programs while attending classes in one of four academic “houses”.

The Smaller Learning Communities Grant program provides local educational agencies with federal funds to plan, implement, or expand smaller learning communities in large high schools of 1,000 students or more. Strategies may include creating schools within schools, career academies, restructuring the school day, instituting personal adult advocates, developing teacher advisory systems and other innovations designed to create a more personalized high school experience for students and improve student achievement and performance.

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