Congressman Fattah Announces $1.4 Million Grant for Educational Innovation Center at Temple University

PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 29, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Congressman Chaka Fattah (D-PA) announced this morning that Temple University is receiving $1,422,305 from the U.S. Department of Education to assist states and school districts with innovative learning strategies to improve student achievement.

Known as a Content Center and operating with a national reach, Temple's Institute for Schools and Society will manage the grant in partnership with the Illinois-based Academic Development Institute. The new program will focus on innovations in learning drawn from prior experience with the Center on Innovation and Improvement (CII).

"This is great news that meets a critical need at a critical time," said Fattah, a Congressional leader for innovation and equity in education for low-income and underserved students.

"America's challenges will only be met by educating the future generation of leaders, earners and thinkers," Fattah said. "Innovation is the key to student learning and economic growth and this Center is going to build a stronger regional and national future."

The $1.4 million competitive grant covers year one of an expected five year program under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.

Fattah announced the grant as he addressed students, educators and Navy officials, including Rear Admiral John G. King, at Pennsylvania MESA Navy Day at the Temple University College of Engineering. MESA Day (for Mathematics, Engineering, Science, and Achievement) is a partnership of the Navy and GEAR UP Philadelphia

MESA Navy Day highlights successful K-12 pre-workforce initiatives in science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM subjects) that are aligned with Navy priorities. Fattah is the architect for the GEAR UP college readiness program (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs). This $4 billion nationwide success story has helped prepare 12 million low-income students in junior and senior high school for the rigors of higher education over the past 13 years.

SOURCE Office of Congressman Chaka Fattah