A r c h i v e d I n f o r m a t i o n

   FOR RELEASE:           Contact:  Kerri Morgan (ED) (202) 401-3026    November 21, 1994            Stephen Gaskill (DOL) (202) 219-8211

DEPARTMENTS OF EDUCATION, LABOR ANNOUNCE $10 MILLION IN GRANTS FOR URBAN AND RURAL COMMUNITIES

Young people in impoverished urban and rural communities will get help making a successful transition from school to work through $10 million in grants announced today by the U.S. Departments of Education and Labor.

The grants will be awarded to 21 local business, education and labor partnerships serving young people who live or attend school in urban and rural communities. The grants are awarded under the School-to-Work Opportunities Act of 1994, signed into law by President Clinton on May 4.

"For many of our nation's young people who live in impoverished areas of the country, the road to economic self- sufficiency and success in the world of work is paved with special barriers," Labor Secretary Robert B. Reich said. "These grants will help break down those barriers and give them access to programs which will prepare them for bright futures."

"The School-to-Work Opportunities Act is a critical part of our efforts to promote high academic and occupational standards for all students," Deputy Secretary of Education Madeleine Kunin said. "Young people living in high-poverty areas must have access to opportunities that prepare them for college and careers. These grants will help communities learn how to build systems to improve schools, help school dropouts and produce meaningful work experiences."

Grants announced today were awarded on a competitive basis to community partnerships that have taken the initiative in developing school-to-work systems. Competitive grants already have been awarded to innovative state and local programs.

Communities receiving the grants are Fort Worth, Houston and Austin, Texas; Portland and Coos County, Ore.; Detroit; Cincinnati; Phenix, Ala.; Modesto and Compton, Calif.; Hayden, Idaho; Tulsa and Durant, Okla.; Baltimore; Minneapolis; Miami; Bronx, N.Y.; Blanding, Utah; Chicago; Sturgis, S.D.; Yakima, Wash.

The School-to-Work Opportunities Act is designed to broaden educational and career opportunities for all students by encouraging partnerships between business and educational institutions at the state and local levels. These partnerships will help students make the connection between what they learn in school and in the workplace and prepare them for careers and further education and training.