Senator Charles E. Schumer

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 8, 2010

SCHUMER ANNOUNCES HORNELL CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT WILL RECEIVE OVER $191,000 IN FEDERAL SCHOOL GRANTS FOR ADVANCED LANGUAGE CLASSES

Funding Will Give Students Opportunity for Advanced Language Classes in Upstate New York

Working Knowledge of Chinese Will Give Students Competitive Edge in Future Economy, College Applications

Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced that the Hornell City School District has received federal grants totaling $191,667 as part of the Foreign Language Assistance Program’s Chinese School-wide Cultural Awareness and Language Expansion (SCALE) Project, administered by the U.S. Department of Education. The funding will be used to expand the school district’s current Chinese foreign language program to include a K-12 Chinese language and cultural study program.

"This is great news for Hornell City Schools," Schumer said. "The funding for these advanced classes will give students an edge in an economy that is becoming increasingly global. Hornell’s students will also improve their chances at getting into a good college by having a working knowledge of an important foreign language.”

Federal funds will be used by the Hornell City School District to build on the success of Chinese instruction already instituted in kindergarten through 1st grade and secondary levels I-II. The project will partner the Hornell District with nearby Alfred University and the Confucius Center at Alfred University to increase Chinese language education and cultural understanding in Upstate New York.

The Foreign Language Assistance Program provides grants to establish, improve, or expand innovative foreign language programs for elementary and secondary school students. In awarding grants under this program, the secretary of education supports projects that promote systemic approaches to improving foreign language learning in the state.

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