BERKLEY SECURES $260,000 FOR COMPUTERS, TECHNOLOGY AND EXPANDED JOURNALISM TRAINING AT AGASSI PREP

(September 11, 2009 -- Washington, D.C.)  Congresswoman Shelley Berkley (NV) today announced $260,000 in federal funding through the U.S. Department of Labor for the Andre Agassi College Prepatory Academy in Las Vegas.  Berkley secured the funding for Agassi Prep from the U.S. Department of Education through an FY 2009 earmark request. 

“This $260,000 in funding will enable the Agassi Academy to expand the availability of computers and other technology in the classroom in order to help students learn.  In addition, this grant will help fund a program providing more than 600 Clark County students with the opportunity to receive broadcast and journalism production training at the Academy.  Many of those who attend Agassi Prep come from areas in our community where families don’t always have access to a computer or other technology, so it is critical that these students are taught the skills required to compete in the workplace of the 21st century,” said Berkley. 

The use of enhanced technology at Agassi Prep is designed to improve student achievement in reading, language arts, writing and mathematics.  The initiative seeks to integrate computer technology across the curriculum, develop multimedia technologies designed by students and staff, and to promote all aspects of broadcast and journalism production.  A portion of the funding secured by Berkley will also be used to ensure that Agassi Prep instructional and support staff receive the proper training and development to enable effective implementation of these programs.  Along with expansion of the Academy’s journalism training program, funding will also be used to provide streaming video in classrooms, to install new software and for other teaching tools.

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