A r c h i v e d I n f o r m a t i o n

    FOR RELEASE                                Contact: Melinda Kitchell Malico April 30, 1996                                     (202) 401-1576

Riley Recognizes Effective Schools that Beat the Odds

U.S. Secretary of Education Richard W. Riley today identified 56 elementary and secondary schools in low-income areas that are showing marked success in improving student achievement through extra help from Title I -- the largest U.S. Department of Education program to help children master the basics and more challenging subject matter.

"These schools exemplify the kind of partnership it takes to help every child get on the right track to solid learning," Riley said. "They reflect a commitment to helping disadvantaged students build a strong foundation to help them meet challenging academic standards.
"All the critical elements for effective schools are here -- and the results are clear. Higher test scores, improved attendance, more staff expertise, reinvigorated leadership, and enthusiastic community support are the products of these high-performing schools."

Riley said these schools are unusually effective in raising achievement in student bodies where the level of poverty is high. The recognized schools all receive funds under Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.

Riley also praised bipartisan support for restoring significant Congressional budget cuts to Title I that would have denied about one of five children extra help they need to read and do math well.

Many of the schools selected have worked schoolwide to ensure that all children in the school have access to effective instruction and challenging academic content. Schoolwide programs enable schools in areas with very high levels of poverty to use federal Title I funds, as well as support from other sources, to upgrade the school's entire instructional program and raise achievement of all students.

For example, Riley cited once-troubled Gompers High School in San Diego, in which more than 95 percent of graduates now go on to two and four year colleges, and more than half of the 1995 graduating class has earned a grade point average of 3.0 or higher.

Title I, formerly known as Chapter I, was totally overhauled under the Improving America's Schools Act of 1994. The program provides funds to schools in high poverty areas to improve teaching and learning for children who are at risk of falling behind.

Under the new law, Title I schools are now raising academic standards as well as expectations for student success, improving curriculum and teaching, and increasing parent involvement in all aspects of school improvement. Keeping schools open beyond regular hours to provide extra tutoring is strongly encouraged, and schools are to reduce the amount of time children are "pulled out" of the classroom.

Changes to the program were effective in the 1995-96 school year and made on the basis of research that shows that high expectations, high standards and parent involvement boost learning.

This year's honored schools all met the criteria for the prestigious award by offering:

opportunities for all children to meet proficient and advanced levels of performance;
partnership among schools, parents and communities;
continuous professional development of teachers' skills and knowledge;
curriculum and instruction to enable students to meet high academic standards; and,
consistent (at least three years) improvement in student achievement.

The schools are recognized through a joint process involving the department and the National Association of State Coordinators of Compensatory Education. In this 12th year of the annual Title I National Recognition Program, state education departments were asked to submit schools for the honor. For the first time, states also ran the competition; oversaw a state panel of educators, administrators and practitioners that evaluated the applications and schools' effectiveness in raising student achievement; and conducted site visits to verify program quality.

Test scores, grade promotions and courses completed, student self assessments, teacher and parent ratings, as well as discipline and attendance, were reviewed to measure gains.

Thirty two participating states and the Bureau of Indian Affairs selected this year's winners. Awards are being presented today in New Orleans during the annual meeting of the International Reading Association. Each recognized school will receive a certificate of merit signed by Riley. A sourcebook describing the winning projects will be published later this year.

TITLE I
1995-96 NATIONAL RECOGNITION PROGRAM

ALABAMA

Kitty Stone Elementary - Jacksonville City Schools: Linda Harris
(205) 782-5683,
Schoolwide Project, K-5
Central Park School - Birmingham Public Schools: Joan M. Buckley
(205) 583-4614,
Schoolwide Project, K-5

ARKANSAS

Sallie Cone Elementary School - Conway School District: Mary Dean Mainord
(501) 450-4800,
Targeted Assistance School, 1-6

BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS

Alamo Navajo Community School Alamo Navajo School Board Inc. Magalena, New Mexico: Gail Campbell
(505) 854-2635,
Schoolwide Project, Pre-K-9
San Felipe Pueblo Elementary School Bureau of Indian Affairs, New Mexico: Ernestina Cordova
(505) 867-3364,
Schoolwide Project K-6

CALIFORNIA

William Anderson Elementary School - Lawndale School District: Evelyn Mae Chidsey
(310) 676-0197,
Targeted Assistance School, K-6
Gompers Secondary School - San Diego Unified School District: Robert Raines
(619) 293-8216
Targeted Assistance School, 7-12

COLORADO

Billie Martinez Elementary School Weld County School District #6, Greeley: Sharon S. Dwyer
(970) 352-1543 ext 245,
Schoolwide Project, K-6
Montview Elementary School - Aurora Public Schools: Colleen M. Rickert
(970) 344-2610,
Targeted Assistance School, K-12

CONNECTICUT

Annie Fisher School - Hartford Board of Education: Alice Dickens
(860) 722-8707
Targeted Assistance School, Pre-K-6
Elias Howe School - Bridgeport Public Schools: Henry R. Kelly
(203) 576-7307,
Targeted Assistance School, K-6

DELAWARE

Lancashire Elementary School Brandywine School District, Claymont: Wilbert L. Miller
(302) 792-3815
Targeted Assistance School, K-6
William Lewis Elementary School Red Clay Consolidated School District, Wilmington: Carolyn L. Williams
(302) 651-2652
Targeted Assistance School, 1-3

FLORIDA

Fienberg/Fisher Elementary School Dade County Public Schools, Miami: Mary P. Vereen
(305) 995-1714
Targeted Assistance School, K-6
Northwest Elementary School Pasco County School Board, Land O'Lakes: Renee Sedlack
(813) 868-9511
Schoolwide Project, K-6

GEORGIA

Grovetown Elementary School Columbia County School System, Appling: Carole Jean Carey
(706) 863-1748
Targeted Assistance School, Pre-K-5
Hapeville Elementary, Fulton County School System, Atlanta: Donnella B. Cranford
(404) 669-4949
Targeted Assistance School, K-5

HAWAII

Ka'iulani Elementary School, Honolulu District Office, Honolulu: Donald Y. Enoki
(808) 733-4760
Targeted Assistance School, K-6

INDIANA

Lincoln Elementary School, Bartholomew Consolidated School Corporation, Columbus: Mary Ann Ransdell
(812) 376-4478
Targeted Assistance School, K-6

KANSAS

New York Elementary School, Lawrence Public Schools: Randy Weseman
(913) 832-5000
Schoolwide Project, K-6
Ogden Elementary School Manhatten-Ogden Unified School District #383: Nancy Thompson
(913) 587-2000
Targeted Assistance School, K-6

KENTUCKY

James E. Biggs Early Childhood Center Covington Independent Public Schools: Susan K. Cook
(606) 292-5848
Schoolwide Project, Pre-K
Western Middle School Jefferson County Public Schools, Louisville: George Carson
(502) 485-3006
Targeted Assistance School, 6-8

LOUISIANA

Albert Wicker Elementary, New Orleans Public Schools: Jeanmarie Belonga
(504) 592-8533
Schoolwide Project, K-6
Shady Grove Elementary, Ouachita Parish School Board, Monroe: Lee Smith
(318) 338-5330
Schoolwide Project, Pre-K-6

MAINE

Jack Elementary School, Portland Public Schools: Miriam L. Remar
(207) 874-8100
Targeted Assistance School, K-5

MARYLAND

Patapsco Elementary School #163, Baltimore City Public Schools: Yvonne Woods-Howard
(410) 396-1400
Schoolwide Project, Pre-K-6
Broad Acres Elementary School Montgomery County Public Schools, Rockville: Joseph Yuhas
(301) 230-0660
Targeted Assistance School, K-4

MASSACHUSETTS

Samuel W. Mason Elementary School, Boston Public Schools: Joaquim Baptista
(617) 635-9336
Schoolwide Project, K-6
Worcester Arts Magnet School, Worcester Public Schools: John V. Corcoran
(508) 799-3110
Schoolwide Project, Pre-K-6

MICHIGAN

Gabriel Richard Elementary School, Detroit Public Schools: Erma Gibbs
(313) 494-1679
Schoolwide Projects, Pre-K-5
Samuel Gompers Elementary School, Detroit Public Schools: Erma Gibbs
(313) 494-1679
Schoolwide Project, Pre-K-5

MISSISSIPPI

Gulfview Elementary School Hancock County School Systems, Lakeshore: Janette White
(601) 467-4655
Schoolwide Project, K-6
Kosciusko Middle Elementary School Kosciusko School District: Robert C. Simpson
(601) 289-4653
Schoolwide Project, 2-3

MISSOURI

Shepard Accelerated School, St. Louis Public Schools: Beauton H. Roberts
(314) 361-5500 ext 232
Schoolwide Project, Pre-K-5
The Lake Road Schoolwide Project Poplar Bluff R-1 School District: Sarah J. Long
(573) 785-6803
Schoolwide Project, K-6

NEVADA

Anderson School, Washoe County School District, Reno: Nancy Hall
(702) 851-5640
Targeted Assistance School, K-6

NEW HAMPSHIRE

Gossler Park School, Manchester School District: Mary R. Vigue
(603) 624-6426
Targeted Assistance School, K-5
New Franklin School, Portsmouth School Department: Mary R. Loughlin
(603) 431-8721
Targeted Assistance School, K-5

NEW MEXICO

Clovis Municipal School, Clovis Municipal School District: Priscilla Mestas
(505) 769-4300
Schoolwide Project, Pre-K

NEW YORK

Gwendoline N. Alleyne School Community School District 30, Jackson Heights: Saul E. Steinhauser
(718) 777-4666
Targeted Assistance School, K-6
John F. Kennedy Elementary School Kingston City Consolidated School: Frederick J. Wadnol/Aline G. Waters
(914) 331-3174
Targeted Assistance School, K-5

NORTH CAROLINA

Chadbourn Elementary School Columbus County Board of Education, Whiteville: Kenwood Royal
(910) 642-5168
Schoolwide Project, K-4

OHIO

Highland Elementary School Columbus City School District, Columbus: James A. Huber
(614) 365-6795
Schoolwide Project, K-5
Webster Elementary Structured Magnet School Dayton Public Schools: Rose P. Chatman
(513) 262-2842
Targeted Assistance School, K-5

OKLAHOMA

Emerson Elementary, McAlester Public Schools: Jay S. White
(918) 423-6465
Targeted Assistance School, K-6
Roosevelt Elementary School, Altus Public Schools: O.D. Wikoff
(405) 481-2106
Targeted Assistance School, K-5

OREGON

Kenton Elementary School, Portland Public Schools: Carolyn Moilanen
(503) 331-3447
Schoolwide Project, K-5
Pine Grove Elementary School, Hood River School District: James Sims
(541) 386-4919
Schoolwide Project, K-5

PENNSYLVANIA

Washington Elementary School, School District of Lancaster: Timothea M. Kirchner
(717) 291-6215
Schoolwide Project, Pre-K-5

TENNESSEE

Charlotte Park Elementary Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools: Shirley Holt
(615) 259-8684
Targeted Assistance School, K-4
Pond Gap Elementary School, Knox County School District: Delores McSwine
(423) 594-1802
Schoolwide Project, K-5

VIRGINIA

Gold Hill Elementary, Buckingham County Schools: Patricia Torrence
(804) 969-6130
Schoolwide Project, K-3
Magruder Primary School, Newport News City Public Schools: Eugene S. Pointer
(804) 591-4681
Schoolwide Project, K-5

WASHINGTON

Bemiss Elementary School, Spokane School District #81: Carol Olsen
(509) 353-5394
Schoolwide Project, K-6
West Hills Elementary School, Bremerton School District: Clarajane Goux
(360) 478-5137
Schoolwide Project, K-5

WEST VIRGINIA

Riverside Elementary School Monongalia County Schools, Morgantown: Marie K. Alsop
(304) 291-9330
Schoolwide Project, K-5

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