DETROIT, Sept. 26 /PRNewswire/ -- The DTE Energy Foundation today announced it has awarded $385,000 in grants to Michigan middle schools for programs to improve student math skills. They are the first grants awarded under the Foundation's new competitive Math Enrichment Grant Program. Grants ranging from $5,000 to $50,000 were awarded to 20 schools located throughout DTE Energy's Michigan service territory. Awards were made to launch innovative new programs or to expand existing programs with proven success. The DTE Energy Foundation created the Math Enrichment Grant Program to help Michigan students attain the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in the increasingly competitive global economy. The program targets middle school because it's a critical point in the development of student math skills. "With demand growing for highly skilled workers - and qualifications for jobs becoming more rigorous - it's imperative that Michigan students have a solid grounding in math," said Fred Shell, DTE Energy vice president of corporate and government affairs and president of the DTE Energy Foundation. "The schools we're recognizing with these grants have put forth programs we believe can make a significant difference in improving student achievement in our state." The Foundation's involvement with the winning programs won't end with awarding the grants. The Foundation will closely monitor the progress of each program over the next two years, using assessment tools like the MEAP (Michigan Education Assessment Program) and equivalent mathematics exams. Results will be shared at a "best practices" forum the Foundation will host for educators in 2009. Winners of the 2007 DTE Energy Foundation Math Enrichment Grants are: Dickinson County & Iron County -- Dickinson-Iron Intermediate School District, Kingsford, $21,000 grant Huron County -- Huron Intermediate School District, Bad Axe, $15,000 grant -- North Huron School District, Kinde, $12,000 grant Kent County -- Grand Rapids Public Schools, Grand Rapids, $24,000 grant -- Kent Intermediate School District, Grand Rapids, $20,000 grant Lapeer County -- The Chatfield School, Lapeer, $22,000 grant Macomb County -- Kennedy Middle School, St. Clair Shores, $6,000 grant -- Carleton Middle School, Sterling Heights, $20,000 grant -- Connor Creek Academy, Warren, $4,000 grant Monroe County -- Ida Public Schools, Ida, $10,000 grant -- Monroe County Intermediate School District, Monroe, $23,000 grant Oakland County -- Huron Valley Schools, Highland, $16,000 grant -- Larson Middle School, Troy, $19,000 grant St. Clair County -- St. Clair Regional Educational Service Agency, Marysville, $50,000 grant Wayne County -- Barbour Magnet Middle School, Detroit, $20,000 grant -- Nolan School, Detroit, $22,000 grant -- Pulaski Elementary Middle School, Detroit, $16,000 grant -- Harper Woods Secondary School, Harper Woods, $22,000 -- Livonia Public Schools, Livonia, $20,000 grant -- Southgate Community Schools, Southgate, $23,000 grant DATASOURCE: DTE Energy CONTACT: Eileen Dixon, +1-313-235-9154, or Lorie Kessler, +1-313-235-8807, both of DTE Energy Web site: http://www.dteenergy.com/

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