LOUISVILLE, Ky.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 26, 2005--The GE Foundation today presented the Jefferson County Pubic Schools (JCPS) with a $25 million grant - the largest non-governmental grant ever received by the district - aimed at improving math and science achievement and increasing the number of students who ultimately attend college. The grant is part of the GE Foundation's new national five-year, $100 million expansion of its successful 'College Bound' program. Louisville is one of four pilot sites for the program across the U.S.
Bob Corcoran, president of the GE Foundation, said, "College Bound is a comprehensive effort aimed at strengthening our school systems, and improving math and science so that our students can compete effectively in a global economy. A district-wide collaboration coupled with GE's resources and leadership involvement multiplies the impact."
The four-year grant to JCPS will support a comprehensive, school/business/community collaboration to improve student achievement scores in math and science, close achievement gaps, and increase the number of students entering college. The initiative will build upon the success of the Every1Reads program by identifying new collaboration opportunities, adapting critical components and integrating new strategies.
"This generous College Bound grant from the GE Foundation will enable the community to refine our focus on student achievement," said Dr. Stephen Daeschner, Jefferson County Public Schools Superintendent. "In this global economy, the U.S. falls behind other industrialized countries in math and science. This grant will support our district, schools and community to prepare our students for academic success."
Jefferson County Public Schools is made up of 150 schools, 97,000 students and 5,400 teachers. The district's college-going rate in 2004 was 69%. Only 38% of the students scored at proficient or above in math and 37% of the students scored at proficient or above in science. With this grant, JCPS is creating a "district implementation team" - comprised of the Jefferson County Teachers Association, District staff and broad-based community groups - which will implement standardized curriculums and use research to drive important decisions.
"As President of the Jefferson County Teachers Association and a Physics teacher, I am excited at the prospect of our involvement," said Brent McKim. "In addition to helping identify teachers who will participate in the selection process for curriculum and interventions, we will also help plan professional development which will enable Jefferson County Schools to achieve world class standards in math and science."
Other components of this grant include constituency engagement, management capacity building, a common math and science curriculum, professional development and in-depth evaluation of the program. Lloyd Trotter, President and CEO of the Louisville-based GE Consumer & Industrial business unit, will champion the initiative in the Louisville community and GE volunteers will bring their skills and professional capacity into the schools.
"This initiative represents the spirit of volunteering and giving back that is at the heart of our Company," said Trotter. "GE volunteers here in Louisville are committed to helping the district graduate students who can compete in the global marketplace. We know that it will take all of us working together to make this happen but we look forward to bringing the expertise and leadership of our employees to help with this initiative."
The GE Foundation created the College Bound program in 1989, to increase college-going rates at more than 20 high schools. The Program's district focus launched today seeks to achieve systemic change and student achievement in up to four other districts over the next five years, in addition to Louisville's Jefferson County Public Schools.
The GE Foundation, the philanthropic organization of the General Electric Company, works to strengthen educational access, equity, and quality for disadvantaged youth globally; and supports GE employee and retiree giving and involvement in GE communities around the world. In 2004, the GE Family contributed more than $150 million to community and educational programs, including $52 million from the GE Foundation. For information, visit www.gefoundation.com.
GE Consumer & Industrial spans the globe as an industry leader in major appliance, lighting and integrated industrial equipment, systems and services. Providing solutions for commercial, industrial and residential use in more than 100 countries, GE Consumer & Industrial uses innovative technologies to deliver comfort, convenience and electrical protection and control. General Electric (NYSE: GE) brings imagination to work, selling products under the Monogram(R), Profile(TM), GE(R), Hotpoint(R), SmartWater(TM), and Reveal(R) consumer brands, and Entellisys(TM) industrial brand. For more information about GE Consumer & Industrial, consumers can visit the company's web site at www.ge.com.
Contacts
GE Consumer & Industrial, Louisville
Megan Robison, 502-452-5322
[email protected]