Senator Steve Santarsiero and Representative Tina Davis Announce Over $1.5 Million in Grants for the Bristol Area
Rep. Tina Davis April 15, 2026 | 3:56 PM
State Senator Steve Santarsiero (D-10) and State Representative Tina Davis (D-141) announced today that four recipients in the Bristol area have been awarded $1,500,000 in grants from the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency through their Building Opportunities for Out-of-School Time and Violence Intervention and Prevention (VIP) programs.
“These kind of proactive investments in our students are some of the best investments we can make as a state,” Santarsiero said. “Every dollar we invest in our students now leads to better life outcomes, lower crime, and greater economic activity for our area later. These programs also include strong partnerships with local organizations that will connect our youth with public safety professionals, environmental and nature groups, and other local organizations who serve our community. I’m proud to support these grants for the Bristol area.”
“Investing in after-school, summer, and prevention programs across Bristol Borough, Bristol Township, Bucks County Technical High School, and No Longer Bound strengthens our entire community by giving young people the academic support, enrichment opportunities, career exploration, and safe spaces they need to thrive,” Davis said. “These grants are about more than programs—they’re about building pathways to success, reducing risk, and ensuring every student has the opportunity to reach their full potential.”
Bristol Borough School District is receiving funding to launch a new, comprehensive out-of-school time initiative serving youth ages 12–18. The project aims to reduce risk factors tied to academic underperformance, absenteeism, social-emotional challenges, and exposure to unsafe community conditions by operating structured after-school, evening, weekend, and summer programming at multiple school and community sites, including the Bristol Borough Middle/High School, St. Mark’s Middle School, and the Bristol Borough Fire Association. The initiative targets approximately 170 youth each year disproportionately impacted by poverty, housing instability, disability, limited English proficiency, chronic absenteeism, and gang/drug-related recruitment pressures. Core activities include academic tutoring, homework help, STEM/STEAM enrichment, career readiness programming, industry-aligned certification opportunities, mentoring, wellness activities, and specialized prevention programming. The project also includes a public-safety focused Junior and Youth Fire Cadet Program delivered in partnership with the Bristol Borough Fire Department, providing leadership development, civic engagement, and supervised skill-building during high-risk hours.
“This grant will provide students in Bristol Borough with greater opportunities beyond the school day and connect them to new opportunities to pursue their passions and find career opportunities,” Santarsiero said. “From academic tutoring to the Junior and Youth Fire Cadet Program with the Bristol Borough Fire Department to mentoring, these programs will give our most vulnerable kids the tools and resources they need to thrive.”
“This investment gives students a safe, supportive place to learn and grow beyond the school day,” Davis said. “By expanding access to tutoring, STEM enrichment, mentoring, and prevention programs—including the Junior and Youth Fire Cadet initiative—we are helping young people build skills, confidence, and positive connections that will guide them toward successful futures.”
Bristol Township School District is receiving funding to launch a new districtwide after-school initiative that combines evidence-based literacy tutoring with prevention-focused enrichment, social-emotional learning, and structured supervision for students in grades K–12. The program will serve approximately 450 youth each year. Through partnerships with local organizations, the initiative will provide small-group tutoring, nature-based and hands-on STEM activities, mentoring, and prosocial enrichment clubs. At the high school level, the project expands access to interest-based, identity-affirming clubs and career-readiness supports that strengthen belonging, reduce disengagement, and offer supervised alternatives during high-risk after-school hours.
“This program is focused on providing students across grade levels with incredible opportunities to further their learning and development,” Santarsiero said. “From providing opportunities for students to explore our beautiful natural areas like Silver Lake Nature Center to expanding access to clubs that support students and help them find their place in high school, this funding will make sure students are supported in Bristol Township.”
“After-school programs like this make a real difference for students and families,” said Representative Davis. “This funding will provide hundreds of students with academic support, reading help, enrichment activities, and a structured, supervised environment where they can continue learning and stay engaged in positive opportunities outside the classroom.”
Bucks County Technical High School is receiving funding to expand its Exploratory Academy, a prevention-focused out-of-school time initiative serving students from Bucks County Technical High School and Conwell-Egan Catholic High School. As regional schools, students do not return to their sending districts for after-school or summer services, leaving a substantial supervision gap during high-risk hours. The program aims to serve 130 youth each year and provide safe, structured after-school, evening, weekend, and summer programming that integrates academic tutoring, credit recovery, STEM/STEAM enrichment, workforce and certification pathways, mentoring, wellness activities, leadership development, and public safety career exposure. Through partnerships with local organizations, the initiative strengthens protective factors including school connectedness, adult mentorship, academic engagement, and career readiness while reducing risks linked to unsupervised time and disengagement.
“This funding will help close a critical gap at BCTHS and expand the incredible work they are able to do for our students in career and technical education,” Santarsiero said. “These students will now have access to after school and summer services that will give them access to STEM/STEAM enrichment, mentorship, leadership development, and much more.”
“Career and technical education thrives when students are given hands-on, real-world experiences,” Davis said. “Expanding the Exploratory Academy will give students more opportunities to explore STEM fields, receive academic support, and connect with local partners who can help them prepare for future careers and leadership roles.”
No Longer Bound is receiving funding to sustain and enhance their structured out-of-school time services for elementary and high school youth in Bristol Township and Levittown. The project will provide safe, supportive, and academically aligned programming during critical after school and summer hours for students attending Title I schools, many of whom face significant economic hardship, academic barriers, and social-emotional challenges. The initiative will include homework help, curriculum-aligned enrichment led by certified teachers, social-emotional learning activities, and partner-delivered arts and environmental programming, as well as two Saturday-only prevention cohorts for high school students using the evidence-based “Too Good for Drugs” curriculum.
“Investing in out-of-school time programming is one of the most effective ways we can support student success,” Santarsiero said. “No Longer Bound is expanding access to academic support, social-emotional learning, and drug prevention programming for students in Bristol Township and Levittown. This funding will strengthen both our education system and our community.”
“This funding supports critical work to keep young people engaged in safe, structured, and empowering environments,” Davis said. “Programs like ‘Too Good for Drugs,’ along with academic and enrichment activities, help students build resilience, make positive choices, and stay on a path toward long-term success.”
The goal of the Violence Intervention and Prevention and Building Opportunities Through Out-of-School Time grants from PCCD is to support a wide range of local community violence prevention and intervention strategies, including upstream prevention for at-risk school-age youth.
Additional information about the PCCD can be found on its website: https://www.pa.gov/agencies/pccd/programs-and-services/reducing-gun-violence/gun-violence-grants-and-funding