$18M Gift Aims To Boost Math, Science in Harlem

The city Department of Education is receiving its largest corporate grant ever, an $18 million gift from General Electric that will go toward improving Harlem middle schools, Mayor Bloomberg announced yesterday.

The grant is focused on math and science — subject areas in which General Electric's chairman and CEO, Jeffrey Immelt, said American students are falling behind in worrisome proportions.

Working with outside partners such as Teachers College at Columbia University, General Electric will provide its employees as free labor to help out with generating student interest in the subjects.

The grant is part of a national program General Electric has already launched in five cities to direct more American students into math and science careers.

About 10 schools in Harlem are expected to participate in the program, which will last for five years.

Chancellor Joel Klein said curriculum help, teacher training, and restructuring of schools are possible components of the grant, which could be expanded citywide if it is shown to be successful.

Rep. Charles Rangel of Harlem, who helped secure the partnership, said he hopes the grant will mark a "turning point" in the way companies conceive of their purpose. The idea he wants to get across: "Americans are your shareholders," he said.