Nydia Negron 212 788-2958
MAYOR GIULIANI COMMENDS EXPANSION OF "SCHOOL CHOICE SCHOLARSHIPS FOUNDATION" PROGRAM
New 1,000 Scholarship Winners to be Selected by Lottery in March 1998
Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani today commended the School Choice Scholarships Foundation as it announced 1,000 new private school scholarships to be awarded to students in the City's 14 lowest performing schools. The Mayor joined former Congressman Rev. Floyd Flake, Foundation Chairman Bruce Kovner and educational and philanthropic leaders at Manhattan's Pace University to announce the expansion of the scholarship program.
"I want to thank the Foundation and its generous donors for giving these students and their families the same choice that so many families across the City have had for generations," Mayor Giuliani said. "I would like to see this exciting program expanded to include many more children and I encourage the private and corporate sectors to continue to support it."
The Mayor added, "This initiative fosters competition in our public school system where we are seeing signs of significant improvement under Chancellor Rudy Crew's leadership. Last year, reading scores saw their greatest rise in a decade and we are strengthening our public schools with programs like Project Read, Project Smart Schools and the implementation of a full arts curriculum. But no matter what kind of classroom our children are in, we have a responsibility to protect and nurture their potential."
The Foundation offered its first scholarships to New York City school children by lottery last May. This September, 1200 elementary school children entered 225 different private and parochial schools with the support of the Foundation's scholarships.
The Reverend Dr. Floyd Flake said, "I applaud and encourage the work of the School Choice Scholarships Foundation. Its new approach of targeting these scholarships in the places where the need exists the greatest, will go a long way toward meeting the educational needs of those students and families who find themselves in the under-performing districts."
Foundation Chairman Bruce Kovner said, "Every child has the right to learn. This new program serves only 1,000 kids directly, but we believe that the indirect effects will benefit all of New York City's school children. As we empower 1,000 more parents to make a better life possible for their children, we foster a healthy, competitive environment."
The School Choice Scholarship Foundation, a private philanthropic group, will provide lottery winners with scholarships of $1,400 per year for a minimum of three years to attend the private or parochial school of their parents' choice.
To be eligible, children must be entering grades one through six, qualify for the federal free lunch program and be currently attending a New York City public elementary school in one of the 14 under-performing districts. The 14 districts serve Harlem, Washington Heights, the Lower East Side of Manhattan, Eastern Brooklyn and most of The Bronx.
The new scholarship winners will be selected by lottery this March. Applications for the 1,000 new scholarships are available beginning today. Parents may call the Foundation's toll-free number 1-888-KIDS LEARN.
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