It’s not just grids that get smarter with GE
Contributor Vivek Kemp is GE’s Reporter at Large
This month, the GE Foundation and New York City’s Department of Education announced a program that will pump $13 million into the city’s middle schools. One-year grants of up to $250,000 will go to 55 schools — with GE’s contribution funding 17 schools. I attended the press conference and spoke with the foundation’s president, Bob Corcoran, and a principal, Sharon Weissbrot, whose school received one of GE’s grants.
GE’s contribution, which targets math, science and technology programs, is part of the GE Foundation Developing Futures ™ in Education program. It represents a nearly $150 million investment in selected school districts throughout the United States with the goal of improving math and science curricula, providing teacher professional development and improving college readiness.
* Learn more about the programs
* Listen to an expert perspective by NYC’s Chief Academic Officer
* Read the announcement
* Read “NYC Middle Schools Get $13 Million in Grants”
* Watch NY1’s coverage of the event
While salute to GE education efforts to bring the youngsters…the ultimate should also focus on the essential social responsibility in creating domestic job and placements for those graduates under this program and beyond…
Why was there no open web coverage of shareholder questions and discussion? I would have very much appreciated access to this discussion. Was it deemed to be too dangerous for open exposure to non-attendee shareholders and other observers? Surely not too expensive for web-coverage?
I hope that this evasion will be avoided for future Annual Meetings. C.D.Williams.
p.s. I found the presentions useful and positive. Thankyou!
My son attends a school that is (was) slated to receive these funds and this program. Here is what the Daily News reported this weekend:
http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/education/2010/04/10/2010-04-10_lights_out_for_schools_grant_city_pulls_plug_on_18m_project_funded_by_ge.html
The CITY has decided to pull the plug on this program and re-direct funds intended to enhance math, science and technology at the struggling schools toward more test prep!
Is GE aware that their money is now no longer going to STEM initiatives at these schools? If not, would they like to join us parents in protecting this latest move by the DOE (if the reporting in the Daily News story is correct)? Please contact me at [address redacted] if so.
Thanks,
Victoria
Victoria, thanks for commenting. While the DOE has decided that the grants will not be directed to schools in the same way they were before, $1M will be set aside to support the successful transition of the work already underway in the 18 middle schools.
In addition, these schools will be among the first to pilot performance-based assessments to prepare students for the Common Core standards and will receive targeted resources, support, and teacher training. The 18 schools will also receive additional STEM professional development, participation in the NASA/NSTA summer conference, and the GE Foundation Summer Conference