US Labor Department awards more than $34 million to 6 high schools deemed persistently dangerous to reduce violence and improve educational outcomes

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced more than $34 million in grant funding to six high schools that have been deemed persistently dangerous by state educational agencies. Funds will support programs that reduce violence and improve educational outcomes through mentoring, alternative learning strategies, employment and case management.

"Every good job begins with a good education and all students deserve to pursue that education in a safe environment," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "These grants will promote the type of learning environment that will help get these students on the right track to personal and professional success."

Each grant-funded program must include an adult volunteer mentoring component that integrates the other strategies. Anti-bullying efforts, student courts, peer mediation, anger management classes, crisis intervention strategies, increased involvement of parents and teacher training also will play important roles in reducing violence.

Educational activities can include school restructuring efforts and alternative learning strategies aimed at getting at the underlying causes of violence, high dropout rates and low student achievement in the schools. The strategies implemented by programs should create reforms that have a positive impact on entire schools. Target groups include at-risk youth, such as vulnerable ninth graders, and those individuals who present the greatest challenges in terms of misconduct, truancy and poor school performance. Expected outcomes for the initiative include decreased dropout rates, a reduction in school violence, and improved student behavior and academic performance.

Today's grants are being awarded to four schools within the School District of Philadelphia in Pennsylvania, one in the Schenectady City School District of New York and one in the Baltimore City Public School System in Maryland. One school, with an enrollment of fewer than 1,000 students, will receive $3.4 million. The others, with more than 1,000 students each, will receive $6.27 million each.

For more information on schools receiving funding today, visit http://www.doleta.gov/pdf/PD_OnePagers.pdf. For more information on the range of Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration programs, visit http://www.doleta.gov.

Editor's Note: A complete list of schools receiving these grants and award amounts is below.

Persistently Dangerous High Schools – Grantees