Pasadena Magnet Schools Awarded $15 Million Grant

PUSD headquarters (Photo – ColoradoBlvd.net)

PASADENA – ColoradoBOulevard.net:

The Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD) has been awarded a $15 million Magnet School Assistance Program (MSAP) grant from the U.S. Department of Education to create and expand three new or revised magnet programs.

By News Desk

This is the third major magnet grant awarded to PUSD since 2013. PUSD is among only 19 programs in the whole U.S. to receive the magnet grant.

The new five-year grant will support three school programs:

• Washington Elementary STEM Magnet – environmental science program.
• Longfellow Elementary – new Cross-Cultural Learning.
• Eliot Arts Magnet – enhanced the visual and performing arts and French programs.

The MSAP grant also brings expanded language learning opportunities and articulated pathways between elementary and middle schools. Longfellow Elementary’s existing Spanish Dual Language Immersion program and Washington STEM’s new Spanish World Language Program align with the Spanish language learning opportunities at Octavia E. Butler Magnet. Eliot Arts Magnet is adding a new and exciting arts conservatory and adding French dual language immersion to align course offerings with Altadena Arts Magnet, just down the street.

The award provides funding to develop thematic innovative programs that bring students together from different social, economic, ethnic, and racial backgrounds. The District’s new MSAP funds will support the creation of collaborative learning spaces and inspiring facilities to support thematic learning with professional partners in our community. Teachers will be provided with professional development and collaboration opportunities.

“This third magnet grant solidifies the vibrant public school choices for families of Altadena, Pasadena, and Sierra Madre and affirms the excellent work we have done to provide exciting and rigorous academic programming to our students,” said Superintendent Brian McDonald, Ed.D. “For PUSD to receive this third grant speaks to the confidence in our district’s ability to implement two other magnet grants successfully.” 

Edited by Ann Hunnewell