Reward, Recognition and Continued Excellence schools named
Lieutenant Governor Matt Denn was joined by Department of Education Secretary Mark Murphy to announce the 2012 winners of the state’s Reward, Recognition and Distinguished Title I Schools and Schools of Continued Excellence Awards.
These awards, created by legislation spearheaded by the Lt. Governor and passed by the Delaware General Assembly in 2009, formerly were called Academic Achievement Awards and annually gave five public schools $150,000 each for significantly closing the achievement gap and/or exceeding adequate yearly progress on state tests for two or more consecutive years.
This year, because of the state’s federal Race to the Top funding and the U.S. Department of Education’s approval of a new state school accountability system for Delaware, the Delaware Department of Education was able to expand the number of schools recognized from five to 19, in four categories. A majority of the program is aligned with the former Academic Achievement Award program. The continuation of that program as provided by the RTTT grant funding. The RTTT grant provides funding for this through 2014.
This year, each school, with the exception of the Schools of Continued Excellence, will receive $50,000. As in years past, each school will appoint a committee (with administration, teacher, support staff and parent representation) to determine how the award will be used. Winners were selected based on 2011-12 data.
The announcements were made in three separate press conferences, one in each county to honor the winners.
In addition to Secretary Murphy, the Lt. Governor was joined by representation of the State Board of Education, superintendents, students, parents, teachers and the principals of the winning schools. The winning schools have much discretion in deciding how to spend the money.
“While the monetary award is lower this year, I am glad we were able to recognize triple the number of schools,” Denn said. “I talked with the principals at every school who received an award in the past and that was their recommendation. I am thrilled to be able to honor this many schools with an award that will help them expand services for our students. I am proud of the work our teachers and administrators do every day in our schools. ”
Murphy also praised the work of the educators, students, parents and community partners who worked together to help the schools succeed. “We must learn from what is working in these schools and replicate that success across the state,” he said. “I congratulate these communities for their hard work that has led to these honors and also ask them to partner with us to help other schools share their success.”
The 2012 winners are:
Reward Schools
Title I schools (federal classification based on high percentage of low income population) identified for being either highest performing or high progress.
- Newark Charter School, Newark
- South Dover Elementary School, Capital School District
Recognition Schools
These are chosen for exceptional performance and/or closing the achievement gap. Both Title I and non-Title I schools can qualify. Two of the schools are also Title I Distinguished school awardees. They were Title I schools that met the criteria for Recognition School that had not been Title I Distinguished school awardees in past two years.
- Appoquinimink High School, Appoquinimink School District
- Beacon Middle School, Cape Henlopen School District
- John M. Clayton Elementary School, Indian River School District (also a Title I Distinguished school awardee)
- Dover Air Force Base Middle School, Caesar Rodney School District
- William B. Keene Elementary School, Christina School District
- Kuumba Academy Charter School, Wilmington
- Laurel High School, Laurel School District
- Lord Baltimore Elementary School, Indian River School District
- Evelyn I. Morris Early Childhood Center, Milford School District (also a Title I Distinguished school awardee)
- Mount Pleasant Elementary School, Brandywine School District
- Rehoboth Elementary School, Cape Henlopen School District
- Richard A. Shields Elementary School, Cape Henlopen School District
- Phillip C. Showell Elementary School, Indian River School District
- Nellie Hughes Stokes Elementary School, Caesar Rodney School District
- Sunnyside Elementary School, Smyrna School District
Schools of Continued Excellence
These schools qualified as Reward or Recognition Schools this year but are not receiving funds because they received them last year as Reward School or Academic Achievement Award winners. They will be eligible for funds again next year if they meet the Reward or Recognition School qualifications.
- Elbert‐Palmer Elementary School, Christina School District
- Long Neck Elementary School, Indian River School District
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Delaware's Department of Education is committed to promoting the highest quality education
for every Delaware student by providing visionary leadership and superior service.
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Contact Info.
Alison Kepner Delaware Department of Education 401 Federal Street, Suite #2 Dover, Delaware 19901 Phone: (302) 735-4035 Fax: (302) 739-4654 Email: akepner@doe.k12.de.us |
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