GE Grants Largest-Ever Contribution to NYC Schools

Funding focuses on math and science, leadership for '21st century economy'

By Danielle Lee

General Electric (GE) Chairman and CEO Jeffrey R. Immelt and New York Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg announced that the GE Foundation has awarded the New York City Department of Education (DOE) a five-year grant of $17.9 million in the largest single contribution to the New York City public school system.

Part of GE’s $130 million Developing Futures in Education program, the grant will support middle school curriculum, with a focus on math and science programs.

The contribution will also fund a pilot program in 10 Manhattan schools, where leadership teams will select from a menu of school improvement strategies.

“Public-private partnerships like this one with the GE Foundation have been essential to our success in turning around a failing public school system,” said Mayor Bloomberg, in a statement. “This generous grant will help to prepare our students to be the leaders of the 21st century economy which will be built on science, math and technology.”

The DOE, which as a district serves the largest number of students in the nation with 1.1 million, plans to expand successful education strategies nationwide as early as 2009. The department is the sixth city to participate in the Developing Futures program since 2005.

“At GE we recognize that our future and America's ability to compete globally are fully dependent upon today’s students, which is why the greatest focus of our charitable giving continues to be secondary math and science education,” Immelt said. “Our goal is to equip New York City's students with the skills they need to become tomorrow's leading engineers and breakthrough scientists.”

The GE Foundation is also contributing $11 million in grants to Columbia University Teachers College, the Council for Opportunity in Education, the College for Every Student and the Harlem Children's Zone.