US Labor Department awards $7.4 million to 9 high schools deemed persistently dangerous to reduce violence and improve educational outcomes

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced $7.4 million in additional funding to nine high schools that have been deemed persistently dangerous by state educational agencies.

"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 students on the track to personal and professional success.

Originally awarded in Program Year 2007, the goal of the grants is to reduce violence within select schools through a combination of mentoring, educational, employment, case management and violence prevention strategies. Original grant awards were made through a competitive process open both to school districts that include persistently dangerous high schools and to community-based organizations in partnership with these school districts.

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 seven schools within the School District of Philadelphia in Pennsylvania, and one each in the Baltimore, Md., and Berkshire, N.Y., school districts.

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.

Additional Funding to Generation 1 Persistently Dangerous Schools Grantees