Wednesday, 17 February 2010 00:50

Plymouth Elementary Gets Title 1 Achievement Award

slide3-plymouth_elementary_gets_title_1_achievement_award.pngAmador County – Plymouth Elementary School was among the small percentage of California schools to be honored with a Title 1 Academic Achievement Award for 2009-2010, according to an announcement last week. “This is a great honor, and as far as I know a first for us,” said Plymouth Principal Rosalie McProuty, now in her second year. The Title I Academic Achievement Award is given only to schools receiving federal funds through the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. As the single largest federal educational program for K-12 public education, it is designed to meet the educational needs of students living near or at the poverty level. The Department of Education says the criteria to qualify have become more rigorous in recent years. This means schools “must demonstrate that all students are making significant progress toward proficiency on California's academic content standards,” and “the school's socioeconomically disadvantaged students must have doubled the achievement targets set for them for two consecutive years.” In the case of Plymouth Elementary, at least 40 percent of students classified as socioeconomically disadvantaged in 2008 and 2009. “These award recipients prove that with hard work and high expectations, students can overcome challenges and achieve academic success," said State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell. O'Connell personally called the principal at each of the schools selected to express his congratulations. “I feel this award is recognition of the kind of effort the staff, students and community have put in here,” said McProuty. In 2009, Plymouth received an 824 score on the Academic Performance Index - the school’s highest in six years. “By working together, administrators, teachers, staff, students, and parents have raised student achievement and narrowed the achievement gap. I congratulate these schools and everyone who worked hard to make them deserving of this significant award,” said O’Connell. The 2009-10 awardees will be honored at a reception and banquet at the Disneyland Hotel on April 21st. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.