SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND ANNOUNCE $1 MILLION FOR CORNING MUSEUM OF GLASS TO EXPAND PROGRAMS TO SCHOOL CHILDREN & BOOST EDUCATION INITIATIVES

Legislation Includes Fed Funding For Corning Museum Of Glass To Support Economic Growth And Support New Learning Opportunities For Students

Schumer, Gillibrand: Fed $$ Is Secured For Critical Community Investments In Corning Museum Of Glass

After Schumer personally visited the Corning Museum of Glass, U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced they have secured $1,000,000 in federal funding for the Corning Museum of Glass to develop STEAM curriculum for K-12 students in underserved school districts, which thanks to the senators was just signed into law as part of the Fund for the Improvement of Education in the in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education spending bill. The senators personally secured funding for this project through congressionally directed spending.

"The Corning Museum of Glass is a crown jewel of the Southern Tier's arts and tourism economy. I was proud to visit this iconic museum and promised to help the museum expand its educational programs. I'm thrilled to announce that, following my personal push, I have just helped pass $1 million in federal funding into law to help the museum develop a new curriculum using glass and glass blowing as a teaching tool for understanding science through art," said Senator Schumer. "This boost will give the museum the resources it needs to ensure local school children in the Southern Tier and beyond can experience the wonderful world of glassmaking and science and the rich history of Corning."

"The Corning Museum of Glass is an Upstate New York treasure, and these federal dollars will expand educational opportunities for students across the Southern Tier," said Senator Gillibrand, member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. "I'm proud to have fought to secure these funds, and I'll keep working to bring more federal dollars home to the Southern Tier."

This federal funding secured by Schumer and Gillibrand in the Senate Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education appropriations bill, which was just signed into law, will help the museum expand its educational initiatives with a focus on school-based tours and expanding access for historically underserved school districts. The museum's current school tour options include curriculum-based activities related to art, history, and science. In 2023, the museum's Education Department served 5,479 students on school tours, 143 schools, and 135 school districts. About 20 to 30 percent of participating schools are repeat visitors year to year. This funding will also support a pilot program to provide transportation to ensure access for underserved students beyond the Southern Tier, including in the Capital Region and New York City.

The museum also integrates materials for elementary, middle, and high school students using the New York State curriculum. Using both formal and informal education methods, the museum designs workbooks and modules for teachers to continue lessons begun during demonstrations at the museum in the classroom so students can understand science-encompassing chemistry, physics, earth sciences, and glassmaking-through art. This funding will also help the museum reach schools and students beyond the Southern Tier.

Schumer and Gillibrand explained that the funding was included as a congressionally directed spending request submitted by the senators through the Department of Education in the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education appropriations bill that was just signed into law.

Schumer has a long history of fighting to support the Corning Museum of Glass. Schumer helped save the museum from closing after the pandemic by delivering $10.5 million in relief, including $5.5 million from the Save Our Stages grant program, which he created in the American Rescue Plan as his first act as Majority Leader. This helped the museum keep nearly 200 staff on payroll during the pandemic.

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