Homeless Students at San Diego's Monarch School Receive $5,000 Barona Education Grant to Update Classroom Technology

EDUCATION - NEWS

Source : Barona Band of Mission Indians

Located in Barrio Logan area of San Diego, the Monarch School is dedicated to providing excellent education to homeless youth in grades K through 12 while also providing support for their basic needs such as healthcare, food, clothing and personal hygiene. It will use the grant money to purchase four laptop computers, four graphing calculators and one Nasco Math Supplies kit. These items are to upgrade technology in the school's college and career center as well as for the K-8 math curriculum.

California State Assemblyman Todd Gloria sponsored the grant. Barona Tribal Chairman Edwin "Thorpe" Romero presented the $5,000 check to Principal Michael Paredes, faculty and students.

"The homeless crisis continues to grow and we often forget that this impacts children, too," said Chairman Romero. "The Monarch School is doing amazing work providing these children and young adults with an education and hope for the future."

Since the Barona Education Grant program was launched in 2006, Barona has awarded over $3.4 million to California schools statewide. The program has equipped 689 schools with hundreds of computers, thousands of books, iPads, computer software programs and various other technologies and school supplies.

The Barona Education Grant program is the first of its kind in California created and administered by a Tribal Government. The goal of the program is to create strong educational opportunities for the children of California building upon the success of the Barona Indian Charter School, which operates under a continuous improvement model. Schools throughout California can apply for educational grants from Barona to purchase much-needed supplies and materials that promote academic improvement. Each grant awarded by the Barona Education Grant Program is $5,000. Applications can be downloaded at http://barona-nsn.gov/education