Services for special students to receive new funds

The Obama administration has requested Congress for the next fiscal year to approve a package of about $268 million in grants that would help funding of programs for disabled students, English as a Second Language (ESL) students, students who are, or have been in foster care, and homeless students, to ease and improve their education in two-year community colleges and four-year universities.

These funds will be distributed to school and universities that qualify under special federal guidelines. These schools must have in place, or develop student support services (SSS) programs that help students with special needs in the retention, and application of concepts, and in matters that enable them to reach academic success.

The Department of Education will distribute these funds.

It’s estimated that the schools that qualify for these funds will receive between $220,000 and $360,000 each. All funds must be used in the development, or strengthening of specialized student services.

Programs in the sciences, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), serving at least 120 students, health sciences, teacher preparation SSS project with at least 140 students each, and programs for disabled students with at least 100 students, will receive no less than $1,500 per pupil. Similarly, programs with at least 140 ESL students will receive the same projected funding per pupil.

The address to request an application package is: U.S. Department of Education, 1990 K Street, NW., room 7000, Washington, DC 20006-8510. Contact: Deborah Walsh. The telephone is (202) 502-7600. Deadline to apply is Dec. 7, 2009. The applications will be reviewed no later than Feb 4, 2010.