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| Wilson Visits Schools For Which She Secured Funding for Reading and After School Programs |
August 23, 2002 |
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| Schools approved to receive $50,000 each
Albuquerque, NM-Congresswoman Heather Wilson visited three schools in Albuquerque today that she had worked to secure funding for reading programs and after school activities. Each school was approved to receive $50,000 from the FY 2002 Labor and Health and Human Services Appropriations for programs to enhance the education of its students.
“In my previous visits to these schools, I learned about their individual needs and the plans that they had to implement and expand programs that will really make a difference to a lot of kids,” said Wilson. “It’s great to come back to these schools and their progress. I’m happy to do whatever I can in Congress to further the education of New Mexico’s children.”
Wilson started her school tour at Harrison Middle School, which was approved to receive $50,000 for its after-school program . The Harrison Middle School after-school program is held three days a week. They have sports activities (indoor hockey, flag football, soccer, cheerleading, drill team, etc.), arts and crafts, computer based learning program, and tutoring. The program serves about 300 students, which is just under 50% of the student population. Harrison Middle School provides incentives for students who participate in the program and improve their grades. The funding will allow the school to expand the program to include a literacy program and experiential education program.
Next, Wilson attended a student assembly at Ernie Pyle Middle School where she had the opportunity to talk with students about the importance of getting an education and how they can take advantage of the school’s after-school program for which she was able secure $50,000. Ernie Pyle is a Title I and Bilingual school with a strong focus on technology. The school offers both a before and after school literacy program, computer based reading programs, tutoring, advance coursework in literacy/numeracy combined with recreational and Fine Arts programs. The funding will be used to expand the program, offering more activities and making it available to more students.
Congresswoman Wilson finished her tour at Garfield Middle School where she learned about the $50,000 will allow the school to enhance and expand its Accelerated Reading Program. Garfield Middle School is a Title I Bilingual School. Its goal is to have every student read at or above grade level upon completion of eighth grade. Accelerated Reading is a program in which students are given a significant portion of time during the school day to read. Though Garfield currently participates in this program, this funding would allow Garfield to provide training for its teachers and to purchase more books for the program. Wilson learned from Garfield administrators that a shortage of library books is one of their biggest challenges.
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