[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 80 (Tuesday, June 20, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1215]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     TRIBUTE TO PROJECT GRAD NEWARK

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DONALD M. PAYNE

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 20, 2006

  Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues here in the House of 
Representatives to join me as I rise to acknowledge Project GRAD Newark 
as it hosts its sixth annual scholars celebration on Monday, June 19, 
2006. Project GRAD has every right to be proud of its accomplishments 
and a celebration is indeed in order.
  Project GRAD Newark was established in 1998 to provide support and an 
educationally enriched opportunity for Malcolm X Shabazz High School 
and eight schools that feed students to it. The objectives of Project 
GRAD Newark are to raise the level of academic performance in 
mathematics and literacy; to have students believe in their ability to 
achieve; to have all students aspire to graduate from high school and 
pursue a college education and to have students strive to receive the 
$6,000 Project GRAD scholarship. Fortunately for the students of 
Newark, Project GRAD Newark expanded to include Central High School and 
its six feeder schools in 2000.
  In both instances, the leadership of the Newark Public Schools 
assessed key indicators of progress and determined these two feeder 
groups were lowest in the district. These schools needed the GRAD 
reform initiative to support them with research-based programs, 
services and resources.
  Project GRAD Newark is the first expansion site for the model that 
was developed in Houston, TX, in 1993. With initial support from Lucent 
Technologies Foundation and the Ford Foundation, the Newark Public 
Schools entered into partnership and launched Project GRAD Newark.
  Today, 16 schools serving over 8,500 students, 485 teachers and 50 
administrators constitute the Project GRAD Newark family. All can share 
in the joy of the improvements in each of the schools. On-time 
graduation rates at Central High School have doubled since it became a 
GRAD school. At Malcolm X Shabazz, the on-time graduation rate has 
improved by 20 percent compared to the years before it became a GRAD 
high school.
  This year 109 students, 60 from Malcolm X Shabazz and 49 from 
Central, will graduate with the $6,000 Project GRAD Newark Scholarship 
as they go off to college this fall. At a time when the City of Newark 
is struggling to reduce crime in the streets and help young people have 
hope and focus for a bright future, these students are taking full 
advantage of the opportunities Project GRAD Newark provides. Mr. 
Speaker, I know my colleagues join me in congratulating these students 
on their achievements and all those associated with the Project GRAD 
Newark program in helping to facilitate this significant program.

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