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Washington, D.C. --- U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) announced today that he has secured $300,000 to fund a Student Enrichment & Success Center at Brookdale Community College's Eastern Monmouth County Higher Education Center that will be used by Asbury Park and Neptune teens.
Pallone says the $300,000 in federal funds will help to establish the Student Center, which will focus on pre-college enrichment for at-risk high school students as well as academic and support services for Brookdale Community College students.
"The Enrichment and Student Success Center will provide high school and college students in Asbury Park and Neptune with educational activities and support services to help them achieve their academic goals," Pallone said. "I am pleased to have secured this funding in support of the Center. By investing in the education of our children and young adults, we are building a stronger future for our entire community."
The New Jersey lawmaker said the Center is a practical extension of an existing initiative, known as Opportunity through Math, Science and Technology (OPTIMIST), currently in place at the Asbury Park and Neptune middle schools. OPTIMIST prepares at-risk middle school students for greater success in high school so they stay in school and prepare for college, technical training and employment in high-demand occupations.
The Student Enrichment & Success Center would extend a number of activities free of charge to at-risk students from Asbury Park and Neptune in grades eight through twelve, in addition to providing professional development opportunities to counselors and teachers.
Services will include: improving student performance through Peer-Led-Tutoring; sponsoring a Basic Skills Lab to assist students with reading, writing, math and science; expanding Brookdale's applied math, science and technology summer camp program; and training additional teachers and providing lifetime learning opportunities for current teachers.
Pallone requested the funds earlier this year. Yesterday, the House approved $200,000 in funding as part of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2008 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill. The bill now goes to the Senate. An additional $100,000 was approved by the House Appropriations Committee earlier this month as part of the FY 2008 Commerce, Justice Science and Related Agencies Appropriations bill. The bill comes before the full House next week before heading to the Senate.
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