U.S. Department of Education Awards 23 Grants to Enhance Predominantly Black Institutions
Contact:
U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan today announced the award of $10.8 million to 23 colleges to enhance their capacity to serve low- and middle- income African-American students.
"This program provides valuable resources to ensure that African-American students are successful in college," Duncan said. "Schools funded by this program will play a vital role in meeting President Obama's goal for America to once again have the highest college completion rate by the end of the decade."
The funds may be used for a range of projects, including establishing community outreach programs to encourage elementary school and secondary school students to pursue postsecondary education; tutoring, counseling and service programs designed to improve academic success; and establishing or enhancing a teacher education program that intends to qualify students to teach in a public elementary or secondary school.
The grants are awarded from the Predominantly Black Institutions Program, which supports colleges that have an undergraduate enrollment that is at least 40 percent African-American and at least 50 percent low-income or first-generation college students.
Note to editors: A list of grantees and award amounts follow.
