(AUSTIN) - Senator Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo, announced today (Thursday) that United South High School has preliminarily been awarded a Texas Accelerated Science Achievement Program (Texas ASAP) Cycle 2 grant of $40,000 from the Texas Education Agency.

The grant will support after-school and summer programs designed to increase high school students' achievement and assessment levels as measured by the science portion of the TAKS.

Five additional academic institutions in Senator Zaffirini's District 21 also were preliminarily awarded Texas ASAP grants, totaling $240,000 for the six high schools.

Texas ASAP grants provide direct and indirect support services to high school students that assist them with passing the required science portion of the TAKS. What's more, the after school and summer programs also help students with successfully completing high school level science courses.

"I am delighted that United South High School will receive this important grant that not only will help the school raise TAKS science section passing rates, but also help students succeed," Senator Zaffirini said. "I also am proud of the other deserving academic institutions that demonstrated a strong commitment to educational excellence, and I look forward to this program's confirmation of the award."

Confirmation of the award is pending verification by the Texas Education Agency that the grants comply with statutory requirements and with the intent and purposes of the grant program as applied to the academic institutions.

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