Contact: Colleen Roche 212-788-2958, Curt Ritter 212-788-2971
Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani today commended the School Choice Scholarships Foundation for its continued success in awarding scholarships to New York City children and for becoming a model for cities across the nation. The School Choice Scholarships Foundation, a private philanthropic group, will provides winners, chosen by lottery, with scholarships of $1,400 per year to children in grades one through six for a minimum of three years to attend the private or parochial schools of their choice.
Just a week before the March 3rd deadline for this year's program, the Foundation has already received over 15,000 applications from children in the 14 lowest-performing school districts in the City, almost 3,000 more than those districts submitted last year.
The Mayor was joined by Deputy Mayor Ninfa Segarra; Bruce Kovner, School Choice Scholarships Foundation Chairman; and Associate Director Jane Martinez. Also on hand for today's announcement in City Hall were Beverly Smith and her two children, Andrew and Christopher, both 1997 scholarship recipients who attend St. Rita's School in Brooklyn.
"Now entering its second year, the School Choice Scholarships Foundation is not only providing more New York City children the opportunity to enter schools that are financially beyond their reach, it's now a model program for cities across the Nation," said Mayor Giuliani. "New York City is now leading the way nationally by helping other cities organize similar programs. Private citizens and businesses across the nation are reaching out to provide children an alternative to public school education and offer them the opportunity to enter and attend independent private or parochial schools.
"This year, by focusing on the 14 lowest-performing school districts, we will be able to provide students and their families with the same opportunity that so many families across the City have had for generations," the Mayor continued. "This program is so popular that the Foundation has already received 3,000 more applications from these 14 school districts than it received last year, and with the deadline of March 3rd just a week away. There's still time for parents to apply. I would like to thank the generous people and businesses that have helped provide these children with the same opportunity that other children have had in the past," the Mayor concluded.
Last May, after receiving more than 22,700 applications from the 32 school districts in the City, 1,300 School Choice Scholarships Foundation winners were chosen by lottery and enjoyed the opportunity to attend an private or parochial school of their choice. Educational leaders from Washington DC, San Francisco, St. Louis and Dayton, Ohio, have already begun similar programs, and Chicago and Boston officials plan to start programs next year.
"We are inspired that the response from New York City parents is even greater than it was last year," said School Choice Scholarships Foundation Chairman Bruce Kovner. "Even more parents want this opportunity this year and we are delighted to provide it."
To be eligible, children must be entering grades one through six, qualify for the Federal free lunch program, and currently attend 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 deadline for receipt of applications is March 3, 1998. Scholarship winners will be selected by lottery in late March. For more information parents can call the School Choice Scholarships Foundation's toll-free number: 1-888-KIDS LEARN.