(Pico Rivera, CA) - Assemblyman Charles Calderon announced today that Pico Rivera’s Bermudez Cal-SAFE School has been awarded a $5,000 Barona Education Grant.  The Bermudez School is a fully accredited high school program run by the Los Angeles County Office of Education and serves students in the El Rancho Unified School District.  The school provides pregnant teens, and teens that are already parenting a child, with an opportunity to earn a High School diploma.  In addition to offering general education and regional occupation program courses, students receive a variety of support services that assist them in completing their studies.  The California School Age Families Education (Cal-SAFE) program was established in 1998, as a comprehensive, community-linked school-based program that focuses on youth development and dropout prevention for pregnant and parenting students and their children.

“I am pleased to have been instrumental in the award of this grant.  Competition for grant funding is intense, especially with the limitations on discretionary funding that schools face,” said Assemblyman Calderon.  “While computers are viewed as commonplace in our everyday lives, in the schools they are deemed a luxury.  This grant will provide a vital supplement to the schools’ funding to allow it to obtain these important educational assets.  The students who attend the Bermudez School will benefit tremendously from these funds.”

The Barona Band of Mission Indians only awards the Barona Education Grants to schools that are endorsed and nominated by their State Legislator.  The funds are to be used to purchase educational supplies and materials such as books and computers.  Pico Rivera’s Bermudez School plans to use this grant to purchase computers, and parenting and child development books to help support the schools enrolled pregnant and parenting minors.

“The Barona Tribe has a rich tradition and recognition as a leader in educational excellence.  In awarding this grant, the Barona Tribe continues to provide essential support to educational programs that help enrich the lives of our students,” Calderon noted.  “I applaud their decision to award a Barona Grant to the Bermudez Cal-SAFE program and I am proud to have helped make this award possible.”

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Assembly Member Charles Calderon, Chair of the Revenue and Taxation Committee represents the cities of Downey, Industry, Montebello, Pico Rivera, Whittier and the communities of East Los Angeles, Hacienda Heights, South San Jose Hills and Valinda.