WASHINGTON –
U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin, D-MD, announced today that the Senate-passed Labor-Health and Human Services and Education funding bill includes three projects that had he strongly supported and that will directly benefit Baltimore area residents.

“The Labor-HHS-Education appropriations bill is one of the most important measures considered by Congress in setting many of our nation’s priorities,” said Senator Cardin.
  “This measure includes important projects that will enhance educational opportunities and increase job opportunities.”

The projects included in the Senate bill that were specifically requested by Senator Cardin include:

• 
  
  
  KIPP
  
  
  Foundation Ujima Village Academy in Baltimore – $300,000
  

            KIPP Ujima opened its doors in the summer of 2002 with its first class of 5th graders. It now educates 300 students in grades 5 through 8. More than 99 percent of its students are African American, and 87 percent qualify for the federal free or reduced-price meals program.  KIPP Ujima is the highest performing public school serving middle grades in Baltimore City, as measured by the 2006 Maryland State Assessment. On that exam, 100 percent of seventh and eighth graders scored proficient or advanced in mathematics, achieving the highest math scores in the state of Maryland.

“The KIPP Ujima Village Academy has shown that low-income, minority children can succeed with the right educational opportunities. This funding will ensure that the KIPP Ujima Village Academy has the resources needed to continue its mission of providing children with a quality education,” said Senator Cardin.

• 
  
  
  Chesapeake Bay
  
  
  Foundation Environmental Education – $500,000
  

            This funding will allow the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF), in collaboration with Living Classrooms Foundation (LCF), to continue providing students with rich, meaningful field and classroom programs focusing on the natural and cultural history of the Chesapeake Bay watershed.  It is estimated that the joint CBF and LCF program will involve 700 teachers, and reach 87,000 underserved students.

“The Chesapeake Bay is our greatest natural resource and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and Living Classrooms Foundation have developed a unique program that provides environmental education to more than 87,000 students,” said Senator Cardin.
  “We all have a responsibility to nurture and protect our environment, and all Marylanders need to understand their role in accomplishing that goal.”

·
       


Baltimore


City-Park Heights


Redevelopment Workforce Development Initiative – $500,000

            This funding will support an expansion of Baltimore City’s workforce development resources in the Park Heights area.  Specifically, it will expand the number of job training slots and support the Park Heights Partnership for Jobs.  This program comprehensively addresses unemployment and labor force non-participation by providing for improved adult education, work readiness training, case management, targeted skills training, job placement, job coaching, and ongoing support. 

“Funding for the Redevelopment Workforce Development Initiative provides much needed funding to train Park Heights area residents for jobs, many of which are in the medical field.
  If we are to grow our economy, we have to provide our citizens with economic opportunities,” said Senator Cardin.