FONTANA, CA – Two Fontana Unified elementary schools will receive combined grants totaling more than $100,000 to expand after-school programs that increase access to computer coding classes and enhance science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) curriculum.

Oleander and North Tamarind elementary schools will receive $65,000 and $50,000 in grants, respectively, from the California Department of Education’s (CDE) After School Education and Safety (ASES) Kids Code pilot program.

“These grants are valuable resources for the District as we seek to narrow the skills gap in computer-related subjects, so that our students can begin preparing for careers of the future,” Fontana Unified Superintendent Randal S. Bassett said.

Fontana Unified will partner with the City of Fontana’s Expanded Learning Program (FELP) to implement the ASES grants, which will go toward hiring and training staff, purchasing materials and developing curriculum.

Oleander and North Tamarind’s after-school programs host nearly 100 students per campus, of which at least 25 percent will be enrolled in the computer coding classes.