The Republican - Congressman Richie Neal, Sens. Elizabeth Warren & Ed Markey laud $3.8 million grant for Springfield Public Schools

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The Springfield school district is getting a cash infusion for its magnet school program, thanks to a new Department of Education grant announced on Friday.

The $3.85 million grant from the Department of Education's Office of Innovation and Improvement is aimed at helping give a boost to the city's magnet schools. As the state explains it, magnet schools are public schools that focus on a particular theme, such as arts, science or technology. Magnet schools accept children who live in the school's neighborhood, as well as children from outside the neighborhood.

While the local school district applied for the grant earlier this year, its efforts were supported by former mayor and longtime Democratic Congressman Richard Neal, and the commonwealth's two Democratic senators, Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey.

"I have been in the classrooms of Springfield's magnet schools and seen the difference they make in students' lives. Some of the city's most successful and diverse public schools are magnet schools," Neal said in a statement. "They are laboratories of learning that give parents an opportunity to decide what school is best for their child. This important grant will allow them to continue their extraordinary work."

Warren, who has an office in Springfield, said the grant announcement was exciting news for the district.

"I applaud Superintendent (Daniel) Warwick, Magnet Director (Joshua) Bogin and SPS's teachers and staff for their efforts to secure this grant," Warren said in a statement. "This award reflects SPS's ongoing commitment to making sure all students in Springfield have the tools and skills they need to succeed."

Markey added, "Massachusetts is a national education leader, and Springfield is helping to lead the way. This important funding will allow the Springfield Public Schools to provide challenging academic content for students of different backgrounds and increase student academic achievement in math, science and technology classes."

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