Bensalem Schools Get $4 Million In State Grants

BENSALEM, PA — Bensalem schools will get $800,000 a year for the next five years — a total of $4 million —to run centers that provide enrichment opportunities for students and their families.

The Bensalem Township School District announced it has been awarded two grants, in the amount of $400,000 a year each, running from this year through 2024. The grants are to operate 21st Century Community Learning Centers at Bensalem Township High School and Robert K. Shafer Middle School.

The high school center will be run in partnership with The Ivins Outreach Center, and targets students in 9th-12th grades. The center at Shafer will be in partnership with St. Charles Borromeo School, St. Ephrem School and the Ivins Center, targeting students in grades 7-8.

The competitive learning center grant provides federal funding to establish centers providing academic, artistic and cultural enrichment opportunities for both students and families, the school district said. The opportunities must be during non-school hours or periods when school is not in session to help students meet state and local standards in core academic subjects.

The centers must also offer a broad array of activities that complement their school work and offer literacy and other educational services to their family members.

The centers were created by a 2015 act of Congress.

A minimum of 50 percent of the centers' daily programming must directly target reading, math and science enrichment.

Other programs may include things like literacy programs, financial literacy, programs that support a healthy lifestyle, services for people with disabilities, cultural programs, technology education, library hours, parenting skills programs, drug and violence prevention and more.

"This is a great opportunity for the Bensalem community," the school district said in a news release. "We are very excited and look forward to working with our partners to implement programs supported by the 21st Century Community Learning Centers Grant."