New Funds More than Triple Number of Participating High Schools

    HARRISBURG, Pa., Aug. 30 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Governor Edward G.
 Rendell today said 255 more high schools will benefit from Pennsylvania's
 innovative Classrooms for the Future technology initiative this school
 year, bringing the total number of participating high schools to 358.
 
     The expansion of the program means high school students in 303 of the
 state's 501 school districts will be able to begin using laptop computers
 and other high-tech tools to improve their learning and better prepare for
 future success.
 
     "Classrooms for the Future is helping our high school students engage
 in learning on a new level," Governor Rendell said. "The new technology
 will nurture students' minds and feed their appetite for learning and it
 will prepare them to use equipment and machines that are commonplace in
 colleges and universities, corporate offices, production plants and just
 about anywhere they will go after graduating.
 
     "By using technology as a learning tool, we are ensuring Pennsylvania's
 workforce will remain relevant and competitive in the global economy."
 
     Classrooms for the Future is a three-year investment to provide laptop
 computers, high-speed Internet access and state-of-the-art software to high
 school classrooms across the state. Under Governor Rendell's plan, every
 high school would be part of Classrooms for the Future by 2009.
 
     The 2007-08 budget signed by Governor Rendell in July allocates $90
 million to provide the 255 high schools with 83,000 laptop computers and
 related equipment. It also invests $11 million in high-quality professional
 development for 12,100 teachers in new Classrooms for the Future high
 schools. That money, coupled with $2 million in federal funds, will enable
 each Classrooms for the Future high school to receive $30,000 for staff
 development.
 
     Education Secretary Gerald L. Zahorchak said professional development
 is crucial to the success of Classrooms for the Future. As teachers learn
 how to integrate the technology into classroom instruction, they can move
 beyond being a mere lecturer and facilitate student-driven work.
 
     The technology is being used in math, science, English and social
 studies classes to broaden the learning possibilities for Pennsylvania
 students and provide an unprecedented "gateway" to information and
 knowledge, the secretary added.
 
     "After only one year, Classrooms for the Future already has proven to
 be a success for students and educators," Zahorchak said. "Teachers tell us
 students are more excited and engaged because of these new learning tools.
 In some cases, truancy and absenteeism are declining."
 
     Greater student engagement is not the only benefit, he noted.
 Classrooms for the Future helps students connect their academic coursework
 to the real world, giving deeper meaning to what goes on both inside and
 outside the classroom.
 
     As examples, the secretary cited a current events teacher who used
 Classrooms for the Future equipment to help her students stage a
 videoconference with a soldier serving in Iraq. In another classroom, a
 group of students studying bridge design used computer software to not only
 design structures but also to test them to determine whether they would
 work in a real-life application.
 
     Such activities move students beyond being passive listeners and make
 them into active learners, Zahorchak said, while the professional
 development component of Classrooms for the Future ensures teachers are
 prepared to integrate high-technology into classroom instruction and
 activities.
 
     Classrooms for the Future is among several innovative educational
 initiatives funded in the 2007-08 budget recently signed into law by
 Governor Rendell. Other programs include the Project 720 high school reform
 initiative; Science: It's Elementary, which brings science to life in the
 classroom; and the Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts early childhood education
 initiative.
 
     For more information on these efforts or the Governor's 2007-08
 education budget, visit the Department of Education Web site at
 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.
 
     EDITOR'S NOTE: A list of the grant recipients follows.
 
     CLASSROOMS FOR THE FUTURE 2007-08 RECIPIENTS
 
     (NOTE: Two lists follow. The first list includes school being funded
 for the first time in 2007-08. The second list includes schools initially
 funded in 2006-07 and receiving continued funding this year.)
 
     Newly funded schools
 
     Adams County
     Bermudian Springs SD       $276,081
     Conewago Valley SD         $241,134
     Gettysburg Area SD         $310,701
 
     Allegheny County
     Avonworth SD               $160,702
     Baldwin-Whitehall SD       $509,925
     Deer Lakes SD              $219,033
     East Allegheny SD          $166,757
     Elizabeth Forward SD       $344,229
     Fox Chapel Area SD         $557,740
     Hampton Township SD        $356,999
     North Allegheny SD         $457,605
     Penn Hills SD              $512,662
     Pittsburgh SD               $72,988
     Plum Borough SD            $514,293
     Quaker Valley SD            $67,274
     South Allegheny SD         $195,842
     South Fayette Township SD  $218,640
     Steel Valley SD            $279,572
     Sto-Rox SD                  $60,241
     Upper Saint Clair SD       $471,149
     West Allegheny SD          $100,000
     West Mifflin Area SD       $386,592
 
     Armstrong County
     Armstrong SD               $442,977
 
     Beaver County
     Aliquippa SD                $83,935
     Hopewell Area SD           $220,422
     Riverside Beaver County SD $228,504
     South Side Area SD         $154,258
 
     Bedford County
     Chestnut Ridge SD          $167,485
     Everett Area SD            $135,580
     Tussey Mountain SD         $174,166
 
     Berks County
     Brandywine Heights Area SD $230,853
     Conrad Weiser Area SD      $326,635
     Hamburg Area SD            $287,541
     Oley Valley SD             $215,883
     Schuylkill Valley SD       $224,033
     Tulpehocken Area SD        $216,375
     Wilson  SD                 $426,467
 
     Blair County
     Altoona Area SD            $510,246
     Spring Cove SD             $230,853
     Tyrone Area SD             $227,609
 
     Bradford County
     Athens Area SD             $230,853
     Sayre Area SD              $171,472
 
     Bucks County
     Bristol Township SD        $401,062
     Bucks County Tech High     $402,024
     Central Bucks SD         $1,421,865
     Morrisville Borough SD     $104,150
     Neshaminy SD               $536,765
     Pennsbury SD             $1,176,034
     Karns City Area SD         $230,853
     Slippery Rock Area SD      $120,000
 
     Cambria County
     Blacklick Valley SD         $72,372
     Cambria Heights SD         $168,262
     Central Cambria SD         $157,777
     Conemaugh Valley SD        $116,407
     Ferndale Area SD            $99,141
     Richland SD                $215,205
     Westmont Hilltop SD        $101,049
 
     Carbon County
     Jim Thorpe Area SD         $228,162
     Palmerton Area SD          $223,681
     Weatherly Area SD          $114,484
 
     Centre County
     Bald Eagle Area SD         $230,853
     Penns Valley Area SD       $201,863
     State College Area SD      $743,217
 
     Chester County
     Coatesville Area SD        $387,676
     Downingtown Area SD      $1,088,770
     Kennett Consolidated SD    $203,467
     Octorara Area SD           $306,927
     Owen J Roberts SD           $33,633
 
     Clarion County
     Keystone  SD               $168,305
 
     Clearfield County
     Curwensville Area SD       $163,771
     Dubois Area SD             $409,038
     Harmony Area SD             $58,583
     Moshannon Valley SD         $64,529
     West Branch Area SD        $154,902
 
     Clinton County
     Keystone Central SD        $475,930
 
     Columbia County
     Benton Area SD             $117,478
     Central Columbia SD        $218,457
     Millville Area SD          $114,920
 
     Cumberland County
     Cumberland Valley SD       $265,112
     East Pennsboro Area SD     $343,669
     South Middleton SD         $184,203
 
     Dauphin County
     Central Dauphin SD         $394,396
     Derry Township SD          $135,270
     Harrisburg City SD         $627,669
     Susquehanna Township SD    $183,300
 
     Delaware County
     Chester-Upland SD          $570,981
     Haverford Township SD      $544,101
     Marple Newtown SD          $365,202
     Penn-Delco SD              $322,138
     Radnor Township SD         $400,365
     Ridley SD                  $631,363
     Rose Tree Media SD         $451,637
 
     Elk County
     Johnsonburg Area SD        $109,312
     Ridgway Area SD             $60,456
     Saint Marys Area SD        $343,377
 
     Erie County
     Corry Area SD              $240,954
     Fairview SD                $164,430
     Fort LeBoeuf SD            $249,504
     Iroquois SD                $173,095
     Millcreek Township SD      $380,297
     Union City Area SD         $109,070
 
     Fayette County
     Albert Gallatin Area SD    $442,112
     Brownsville Area SD        $164,391
     Laurel Highlands SD        $397,071
 
     Franklin County
     Fannett-Metal SD           $110,472
 
     Fulton County
     Central Fulton SD          $117,478
     Forbes Road SD              $60,790
 
     Greene County
     Carmichaels Area SD         $11,768
     Jefferson-Morgan SD         $81,091
 
     Indiana County
     Blairsville-Saltsburg SD   $291,643
     Marion Center Area SD      $173,739
 
     Jefferson County
     Brookville Area SD         $172,624
 
     Juniata County
     Juniata Valley SD           $62,355
 
     Lackawanna County
     Abington Heights SD        $433,982
     Carbondale Area SD         $174,166
     Dunmore SD                 $224,693
     Lakeland SD                $230,762
     Riverside  SD              $217,921
 
     Lancaster County
     Donegal SD                 $330,988
     Hempfield  SD              $515,000
     Lampeter-Strasburg SD      $382,693
     Lancaster SD             $1,081,172
     Manheim Central SD         $373,442
     Penn Manor SD              $627,669
     Solanco SD                 $457,605
 
     Lawrence County
     Laurel SD                  $143,670
     Mohawk Area SD             $228,713
     New Castle Area SD         $301,086
     Wilmington Area SD         $109,178
 
     Lebanon County
     Cornwall-Lebanon SD        $512,606
     Eastern Lebanon County SD  $160,273
     Lebanon SD                 $329,176
     Northern Lebanon SD        $322,424
     Palmyra Area SD            $265,640
 
     Lehigh County
     Allentown City SD        $1,878,904
     Catasauqua Area SD         $229,910
     Parkland SD              $1,022,352
     Salisbury Township SD      $174,166
     Southern Lehigh SD         $285,587
 
     Luzerne County
     Dallas SD                  $282,065
     Greater Nanticoke Area SD  $239,445
     Hanover Area SD            $114,207
     Hazleton Area SD           $998,439
     Lake-Lehman SD             $211,666
     West Side AVTS             $174,166
     Wilkes-Barre Area SD       $798,487
     Wyoming Valley West SD     $393,212
 
     Lycoming County
     East Lycoming SD           $101,806
     Loyalsock Township SD       $81,173
     Montgomery Area SD         $109,654
     Muncy SD                   $112,420
 
     McKean County
     Bradford Area SD           $330,988
     Smethport Area SD          $117,478
 
     Mercer County
     Farrell Area SD            $113,196
     Mercer Area SD             $148,253
     Reynolds SD                $174,166
     Sharon City SD             $226,990
 
     Monroe County
     Pleasant Valley SD          $95,590
     Pocono Mountain SD       $1,292,293
 
     Montgomery County
     Cheltenham Township SD      $14,503
     Lower Moreland Twp SD      $185,048
     North Penn SD            $1,008,870
     Perkiomen Valley SD        $484,329
     Pottstown SD               $201,300
     Souderton Area SD          $445,989
     Upper Dublin SD            $548,804
     Wissahickon SD             $490,077
 
     Northampton County
     Bangor Area SD             $242,085
     Nazareth Area SD           $329,560
 
     Northumberland County
     Mount Carmel Area SD       $174,053
     Shamokin Area SD           $226,406
     Shikellamy SD              $339,238
 
     Perry County
     Newport SD                 $163,435
     Susquenita SD              $287,541
     West Perry SD              $327,760
 
     Pike County
     Delaware Valley SD         $587,644
 
     Potter County
     Austin Area SD              $58,994
     Coudersport Area SD        $111,263
     Galeton Area SD             $59,293
     Oswayo Valley SD            $41,311
 
     Schuylkill County
     Mahanoy Area SD            $154,918
     North Schuylkill SD        $214,534
     Pine Grove Area SD         $210,776
     Schuylkill Haven Area SD    $96,619
     Shenandoah Valley SD        $40,485
 
     Snyder County
     Selinsgrove Area SD        $310,795
 
     Somerset County
     Berlin Brothersvalley SD   $117,478
     Meyersdale Area SD          $87,950
     Rockwood Area SD           $105,235
     Turkeyfoot Valley Area SD   $60,790
     Windber Area SD            $133,485
 
     Sullivan County
     Sullivan County SD         $105,881
 
     Susquehanna County
     Blue Ridge SD              $162,430
     Forest City Regional SD    $113,064
     Mountain View SD           $174,166
     Susquehanna Community      $110,080
 
     Tioga County
     Northern Tioga SD          $285,766
     Southern Tioga SD          $405,057
     Wellsboro Area SD          $173,534
 
     Union County
     Lewisburg Area SD          $198,071
     Mifflinburg Area SD        $212,722
 
     Venango County
     Oil City Area SD           $284,339
 
     Washington County
     Bentworth SD              $144,911
     California Area SD        $116,625
     Canon-McMillan SD         $448,039
     Fort Cherry SD            $158,563
     Ringgold SD               $387,001
     Trinity Area SD           $377,502
     Washington SD             $229,483
 
     Wayne County
     Wallenpaupack Area SD     $411,757
     Wayne Highlands SD        $392,715
     Western Wayne SD          $276,630
 
     Westmoreland County
     Greensburg Salem SD       $374,172
     Monessen City SD          $146,045
 
     Wyoming County
     Lackawanna Trail SD        $85,813
 
     York County
     Dallastown Area SD        $338,031
     Northeastern York SD      $315,293
     Northern York County SD   $395,919
     Red Lion Area SD          $508,314
     South Eastern SD          $315,718
     South Western SD          $453,768
     Southern York County SD   $334,055
     York City SD              $332,244
     York Suburban SD          $118,555
 
     Schools receiving funding for a second year
 
     Allegheny County
     Cornell SD                 $20,000
     Gateway SD                $106,720
     Highlands SD               $20,000
     McKeesport Area SD        $214,520
     Moon Area SD               $36,512
     Mt Lebanon SD             $276,783
     Northgate SD               $20,000
     Pine-Richland SD          $143,222
     Riverview SD               $83,483
     Shaler Area SD            $287,071
     South Park SD              $20,000
     Wilkinsburg Borough SD     $20,000
 
     Beaver County
     Big Beaver Falls Area SD   $76,700
     Freedom Area SD            $14,000
 
     Bedford County
     Bedford Area SD             $4,197
 
     Berks County
     Kutztown Area SD           $20,000
     Reading SD              $1,070,414
 
     Bradford County
     Canton Area SD             $68,873
     Troy Area SD               $31,430
 
     Bucks County
     Bensalem Township SD      $589,123
     Council Rock SD           $642,412
 
     Butler County
     Butler Area SD            $541,874
 
     Cambria County
     Greater Johnstown SD      $226,476
     Penn Cambria SD           $131,404
 
     Chester County
     Avon Grove SD             $412,508
     West Chester Area SD    $1,290,069
 
     Clearfield County
     Philipsburg-Osceola Area  $189,701
 
     Columbia County
     Berwick Area SD           $291,386
     Southern Columbia Area SD  $78,933
 
     Cumberland County
     Big Spring SD              $20,000
     Camp Hill SD              $144,563
     Shippensburg Area SD       $98,744
 
     Dauphin County
     Lower Dauphin SD          $288,842
 
     Delaware County
     Chichester SD             $403,479
     Southeast Delco SD        $276,699
     Springfield SD             $25,650
     Upper Darby SD            $838,700
     William Penn SD            $20,000
 
     Erie County
     Erie City SD              $952,172
     Girard SD                 $135,620
     Northwestern SD            $20,000
 
     Greene County
     Southeastern Greene SD          $0
     (will receive $30,000 for staff development)
 
     Jefferson County
     Punxsutawney Area SD       $20,000
 
     Lackawanna County
     North Pocono SD            $82,874
     Scranton SD               $192,546
 
     Lancaster County
     Conestoga Valley SD       $411,815
     Warwick SD                 $20,000
     Manheim Township SD       $163,408
 
     Lebanon County
     Annville-Cleona SD         $13,000
 
     Lehigh County
     Lehigh Career & Technical $615,151
     Northwestern Lehigh SD     $20,000
 
     Luzerne County
     Northwest Area SD          $75,000
 
     Lycoming County
     Jersey Shore Area SD      $261,206
 
     Mercer County
     Greenville Area SD        $181,523
 
     Monroe County
     East Stroudsburg Area SD  $215,026
     Stroudsburg Area SD       $106,720
 
     Montgomery County
     Abington SD               $511,566
     Colonial SD               $311,754
     Hatboro-Horsham SD        $264,729
     Jenkintown SD              $70,011
     Lower Merion SD            $24,714
     Norristown Area SD        $131,600
     Springfield Township SD   $160,166
     Upper Merion Area SD      $247,244
 
     Montour County
     Danville Area SD          $119,592
 
     Northampton County
     Bethlehem Area SD       $1,237,006
     Easton Area SD            $445,712
     Northampton Area SD       $464,813
 
     Philadelphia County
     Philadelphia City SD    $6,151,573
 
     Snyder County
     Midd-West SD              $203,794
 
     Somerset County
     Shanksville-Stonycreek SD  $28,067
     Somerset Area SD          $191,709
 
     Susquehanna County
     Montrose Area SD          $162,920
 
     Washington County
     Burgettstown Area SD       $17,331
     Charleroi SD              $140,170
 
     Westmoreland County
     Franklin Regional SD      $223,025
 
     York County
     Central York SD           $243,740
     West Shore SD             $431,786
     York Co. School of Tech    $56,720
 
 
     CONTACT:
     Gary Miller
     717-783-1116
 
     Michael Race (PDE)
     717-783-9802
 
 
 
 
 

SOURCE Pennsylvania Office of the Governor