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

       FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                   Contact:  David W. Thomas    May 4, 1994                                        (202) 401-1579

91 WINNERS NAMED BY EDUCATION SECRETARY IN NATIONAL CHAPTER 1 RECOGNITION PROGRAM

U.S. Secretary of Education Richard W. Riley today named 91 winning programs in the 10th annual Chapter 1 National Recognition Program. The $6.3 billion Chapter 1 program is the largest federal effort in elementary and secondary education, serving more than 14,000 school districts. Funds are used to meet the special education needs of educationally disadvantaged children who live in areas with high concentrations of low-income families.

The recognition program focused again this year on schools with poverty levels above the national or state average. The evaluation of nominee projects included emphasis on significant improvement and on school-wide projects.

"The Chapter 1 program serves millions of children in 90 percent of the nation's school districts," Riley said. "We selected these winners because they've enhanced their programs, and have broadened their vision to challenge all children with high academic standards. They're in sync with our efforts to move beyond focusing on improving basic skills of at-risk students."

The award winning projects have several elements in common:

significant parental involvement;
efforts to integrate education and support services;
attention to multicultural diversity, and
using classroom time more effectively, which may also include extending the school day, week or year.

As part of the selection process, state educational agencies nominated projects, and an independent national panel evaluated their effectiveness in raising student achievement levels.

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

Awards will be presented May 10 in Toronto, Canada, at a meeting of the International Reading Association. A sourcebook describing the winning projects will be published later this year.