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Office of the Governor
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

Feb. 2, 2006

HARRISBURG – Governor Edward G. Rendell today said more than 9,300 Pennsylvania students will help clean up communities, volunteer at nursing homes and participate in rehabilitation projects thanks to $160,000 in state grants from the Department of Education.
 
The “Learn and Serve” grants are geared toward combining classroom instruction with civic engagement. 
 
“Not only are we making investments in the classroom, we are giving students a better chance to succeed and help their communities become better places to live,” Governor Rendell said. “It’s one thing to learn about being a good citizen, it’s another to actually be one.”
 
“When community service and classroom learning combine, students are able to more easily grasp complex issues and connect potential solutions to community challenges,” said acting Education Secretary Gerald L. Zahorchak. “These grants will help teachers and students enjoy a more enhanced learning experience, serve the community and foster a better sense of civic responsibility.”
 
The “Learn and Serve” grants are federally funded by the Corporation for National and Community Service and administered through the Department of Education. Four types of awards are included in this year’s grants:

• New Student Service-Learning grants
• Continuing Student Service-Learning grants
• Civic Engagement grants
• Start-Up grants 

Eligible grantees are public educational agencies, including charter schools, and grants are awarded on a competitive basis according to criteria such as youth involvement in planning and overall strength of program design.
 
For more information about “Learn and Serve” grants and the Pennsylvania Department of Education, please visit www.pde.state.pa.us.

The Rendell Administration is committed to creating a first-rate public education system, protecting our most vulnerable citizens and continuing economic investment to support our communities and businesses.  To find out more about Governor Rendell's initiatives and to sign up for his weekly newsletter, visit his Web site at: www.governor.state.pa.us.