Low income Delaware schools get top money award

First grade teacher Lynda Jensen teaches her class of 30 children Thursday, Jan. 24, 2013, at the Willow Glenn Elementary School in San Jose, Calif. Classes in California's public schools are getting bigger. To save money on teacher salaries, school districts across the state have gotten into the habit of putting more children in classrooms and then seeking retroactive approval from the California State Board of Education.  Although bigger classes are unpopular with teachers and parents, research on the link between class size and learning has been inconclusive. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)

First grade teacher Lynda Jensen teaches her class of 30 children Thursday, Jan. 24, 2013, at the Willow Glenn Elementary School in San Jose, Calif. Classes in California's public schools are getting bigger. To save money on teacher salaries, school districts across the state have gotten into the habit of putting more children in classrooms and then seeking retroactive approval from the California State Board of Education. Although bigger classes are unpopular with teachers and parents, research on the link between class size and learning has been inconclusive. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)

Race to the Top is paying off again for some Delaware schools.  17 Delaware schools in all three counties will receive a reward of $50-thousand each because of exceptional performance among students.

 

Lieutenant Gov. Matt Denn and Department of Education Sec. Mark Murphy made the announcement on Tuesday. The 17 schools are part of the 2013 winners of the state’s Reward and Recognition School Awards. The money is given to schools where students from low-income households are performing exceptionally well. Also rewarded, are schools that have made great strides at closing the achievement gap for students who are considered low income, a minority or disabled.

“”I am thrilled to be able to honor these schools with an award that will help them expand services for our students. As in past years, I will be trying to visit as many of these schools in person as I can, so we can learn from schools whose kids are succeeding – often in spite of serious challenges,” Lt. Gov. Denn said.

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The 2013 winners that fall under the Rewards Schools category are Elbert-Palmer Elementary in the Christina School District and Sussex Academy in Georgetown. Both are considered the highest performing among all the recipients. Meanwhile 15 are being called Recognition Schools that either closed the achievement gap or also demonstrated outstanding performance.

Here are the following Recognition Schools:

• Charter School of Wilmington, Red Clay School District• Carrie Downie Elementary School, Colonial School District• East Millsboro Elementary School, Indian River School District• Georgetown Elementary School, Indian River School District• Georgetown Middle School, Indian River School District• Hanby Elementary School, Brandywine School District• Lake Forest East Elementary School, Lake Forest School District• Lake Forest North Elementary School, Lake Forest School District (also a Title I Distinguished school awardee)• Lake Forest South Elementary School, Lake Forest School District• Long Neck Elementary School, Indian River School District• R. Elisabeth Maclary Elementary School, Christina School District(also a Title I Distinguished school awardee)• Middletown High School, Appoquinimink School District• North Dover Elementary School, Capital School District• W. B. Simpson Elementary School, Caesar Rodney School District• St. Georges Technical High School, New Castle County Vocational Technical School District

In recent years, winning schools appointed a committee with administrators and teachers to decide how the money will be used and the same is expected this year.

“We must take what is working well in these schools and share those lessons with school communities throughout our state,” said Sec. Murphy.

The Reward and Recognition School Awards were called the Academic Achievement Awards last year. 12 of the schools that won the Academic Achievement Awards in 2012 had outstanding performance again this year but are not eligible for a financial award again until 2014.

The monetary awards were made possible thanks to legislation spearheaded by Lt. Gov. Denn and passed by the Delaware General Assembly in 2009.

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