WASHINGTON –
U.S. Senators Benjamin L. Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski today announced that the Baltimore City Public School System (BCPS) will receive $4.8 million grant from the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) to reduce dropout rates and involvement in gang activities.

The funds will be used over a two-year period for a variety of educational and employment programs designed to reduce dropout rates and reduce gang involvement for at-risk youths in grades 8 through 12.
  The grant requires that programs include at least one component aimed at increasing educational achievement and decreasing the dropout rate among juvenile offenders and at-risk youth, at least one component aimed at providing paid work experience and internships for out-of-school juvenile offenders, and at least one component aimed at reducing youth gangs and youth violent crime.

“These funds are directed to providing work experience and skills to at-risk youth who are in danger of dropping out of school or of joining a gang,” said Senator Cardin.
  “It is in the interest of all of us to help these youths succeed and become productive members of our community.”

“Education is the opportunity ladder of this nation.  This is a federal investment in making sure every child has an opportunity to succeed,” said Senator Mikulski.  I'm so proud that we are investing resources in our communities and in our children, while standing against gangs and violence
.”

In addition to BCPS, grants were also awarded to the Chicago (IL) Public Schools, Milwaukee (WI) Public Schools, Orange County (FL) School Board and the School District of Philadelphia, PA. The competition for the grants was limited to 20 school districts with the largest number of high school dropouts.