SANTA ANA : Grant Given to Help Minorities Graduate

Rancho Santiago College and the city of Santa Ana have received a $25,000 grant aimed at improving graduation rates among minorities.

Selected by the National Center for Urban Partnerships, Santa Ana is one of 15 cities nationwide chosen to implement a plan to link successful existing minority retention programs as a means of improving their effectiveness, said college spokesman Henry Kertman.

Called “Networks-Santa Ana,” the program will encourage Project STEP (Student and Teacher Educational Partnership) and Santa Ana 2000, a coalition of local business and civic leaders, to combine their efforts to keep students in school. Proposed joint projects include coordinated job placement programs, math and science literacy programs for at-risk students.