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Friday, July 17, 2009

Rep. Luján Announces Grant to Help Chama Students Prepare for College

Rep. Ben Ray Luján today announced a grant of $201,600 for the Chama Valley Independent School District’s Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP). GEAR UP helps low income students prepare for college.

“I’m encouraged that the Chama Valley Independent School District received this important grant to help prepare students for college,” said Rep. Luján in a press release. “We must continue to focus on preparing all students throughout their schooling so we can reduce the dropout rate, teach our students the skills they need to succeed, and get them ready to participate in our workforce.”

The Chama Valley Independent School District serves a rural district where 73 percent of the students receive free or reduced-cost lunches. This discretionary grant will allow the school to expand its curriculum to include subjects such as pre-algebra, advanced science, and mathematics courses.

“I am proud of the accomplishments of the Chama Valley Independent School District, which serves so many of our young people. This funding will provide many exciting and important opportunities for our students” said Rep. Luján.

According to the U.S. Department of Education, this discretionary grant program is designed to increase the number of low-income students who are prepared to enter and succeed in postsecondary education. GEAR UP provides six-year grants to states and partnerships to provide services at high-poverty middle and high schools. GEAR UP grantees serves students, beginning no later than the seventh grade, and follow them through high school. GEAR UP funds are also used to provide college scholarships to low-income students.

July 17, 2009 at 01:26 PM in Education, NM Congressional Delegation, Poverty, Rep. Ben Ray Lujan | Permalink

Comments

I am so very proud of our New Mexican native and Hispanic students at New Mexico Tech. These kids are the best of our New Mexican families. They ALL have one thing in common. They ALL have strong families with caring and strict parents. It is the parents that make all the difference.

I was thinking about our grim proficiency standard in this state. We need a cultural revolution in this state placing a cultural value on intellectualism and academic achievement. Culturally, in general, New Mexicans do not think the girls require an advanced education. And, New Mexico's hijos are classically spoiled rotten by doting Hispanic mothers.

Even as we indulge our children, perhaps intellectualism and academic achievement could become a criteria for choosing a mate rather than solely "romance". Other cultures place a value on these traits and it is time to incorporate it into ours.

I am glad to hear that Gear Up helps students early on. It takes years to cultivate the kind of proficiency required to compete nationally and internationally at New Mexico Tech.

Posted by: qofdisks | Jul 18, 2009 9:46:09 AM

An interesting proposition gofdisks. I hope it gains some traction.

Posted by: Old Dem | Jul 18, 2009 9:57:06 AM