Dearborn Adult Education Program Receives Federal Grant

$99,865 Awarded from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

The Dearborn Public Schools Adult and Community Education program was selected to receive a grant totaling $99,865 as part of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) 2010 Citizenship and Integration Grant Program. In a special press conference held at the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Detroit Office, the official announcement of the grant was made by Alejandro Mayorkas, Director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration. Dearborn Superintendent, Mr. Brian Whiston, thanked the USCIS for the grant and outlined how the additional funding will benefit the program in Dearborn.

As a provider of English as a Second Language (ESL) and Citizenship classes, the Dearborn Public Schools Adult Education Department will use the almost $100,000 in funding to improve and expand its program, increasing opportunities for lawful permanent residents wanting to prepare for citizenship and integration into American society.

"We are very happy to be one of only 75 organizations out of hundreds that applied to receive this funding," commented Ms. Carole Wells, Coordinator of the Adult Education program in Dearborn.

"I feel our selection to receive this grant says a great deal about the quality of our program and success we are having in preparing people to be legal citizens of this great country," Wells added.

The expanded citizenship preparation services will include an additional teacher to teach three Civics-focused ESL classes during the day, an additional teacher to teach a Citizenship class in the evening, and the purchase of needed educational resources, including a computer lab. Additionally, a part-time data person will be hired to help register, do assessments, and insert data regarding this project into the district and state monitoring programs.

USCIS Director Alejandro Mayorkas announced that 75 organizations from 27 states and the District of Columbia will receive a total of $7.8 million in grant funding to promote citizenship education and immigrant integration in communities across the country.

Through this competitive grant program, USCIS seeks to expand citizenship preparation programs for lawful permanent residents (LPRs) to ensure that those committed to the goal of U.S. citizenship receive the support they need to be successful. Increased opportunities and additional resources in communities will help LPRs improve their English language skills and knowledge of U.S. history and government as they prepare for citizenship.