November 7, 2008 For more information contact:
For immediate release Charles Volland, Chairman, Confidence in Kansas Public Education Task Force
(785) 717-4000
2008 Challenge Awards go to 51 Kansas Districts
TOPEKA – The 2008 Challenge Award recipients have been named by the Confidence in Public Education Task Force. The Challenge Awards are designed to recognize Kansas schools making a significant difference in student achievement despite facing significant challenges in school population.
One hundred eleven Certificates of Merit will be presented to 51 Kansas public school districts at a special ceremony November 12, 2008, at Junction City Middle School, 700 Wildcat Lane, Junction City, Kansas. Registration begins at 5:30 p.m., with the dinner set to begin at 6:15 p.m. The awards ceremony will follow the dinner.
The certificates recognize performance on state assessments in reading and/or mathematics that exceeds normal expectations based on the socio-economic status and sample size of those taking the test. This year, due to the first cycle of the opportunity-to-learn provision for reading and mathematics at the high school level, no high schools could be recognized.
Data gathered through the Quality Performance Accreditation (QPA) process has shown that the greatest achievement gap occurs in schools with a high percentage of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunches. Schools receiving a Challenge Award have managed to post state assessment scores above what would normally be expected among those serving disadvantaged populations.
“Kansas educators have long worked from the belief that all children can learn. The federal No Child Left Behind legislation also supports that contention,” said Charles Volland, chairman of the Confidence in Kansas Public Education Task Force. “The purpose of this award program is to both affirm that belief and recognize those schools that have been successful in putting that belief into action.”
A list of the schools receiving a 2008 Challenge Award is attached. The list includes the subject area and grade level for which the school is being recognized.
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2008 Challenge Award Recipients
Third grade math
Eugene Ware Elementary School, USD 500, Kansas City
Franklin Elementary School, USD 475, Geary County
Garfield Elementary School, USD 503, Parsons
Harper Elementary School, USD 361, Anthony-Harper
McDermott Elementary School, USD 480, Liberal
Oakdale Elementary School. USD 305, Salina
Paul B. Cooper Elementary School, USD 260 Derby
Quinton Heights Elementary School, USD 501, Topeka
Washington Elementary School, USD 489, Hays
Fourth grade math
Beeson Elementary School, USD 443, Dodge City
Belleville East Elementary School, USD 109, Republic County
Colvin Elementary School, USD 259, Wichita
McCarter Elementary School, USD 501, Topeka
Oakdale Elementary School. USD 305, Salina
Oakley Elementary School, USD 274, Oakley
Washington Elementary School, USD 233, Olathe
Washington Elementary School, USD 475, Geary County
Yates Center Elementary School, USD 366, Yates Center
Fifth grade math
Douglass Elementary School, USD 500, Kansas City
Everest Middle School, USD 430, South Brown County
Hugoton Elementary School, USD 210, Hugoton
Lakeside Intermediate School, USD 272, Waconda
Lyons Central Elementary School, USD 405, Lyons
Meadows Elementary School, USD 501, Topeka
Oaklawn Elementary School, USD 260, Derby
Stafford Elementary School, USD 349, Stafford
Westside Elementary School, USD 250, Pittsburg
Sixth grade math
Concordia Middle School, USD 333, Concordia
Everest Middle School, USD 430
Horace Mann Dual Language Magnet, USD 259, Wichita
Lincoln Elementary School, USD 308, Hutchinson
Midland Trail Elementary School, USD 202, Turner
Mound Valley Elementary School, USD 506, Labette County
Osawatomie Middle School, USD 367, Osawatomie
Riley Elementary School, USD 428, Great Bend
Satanta Elementary School, USD 507, Satanta
Seventh grade math
Great Bend Middle School, USD 428, Great Bend
Hiawatha Middle School, USD 415, Hiawatha
Horace Mann Dual Language Magnet, USD 259, Wichita
Marmaton Valley High School, USD 256, Marmaton Valley
Republic County Middle School, USD 109, Republic County
Southern Coffey County Middle School, USD 245, LeRoy Gridley
St. Francis High School, USD 297, St. Francis
Stanton County Middle School, USD 452, Stanton County
Eighth grade math
Atchison Middle School, USD 409, Atchison
Canton Galva Elementary at Galva, USD 419, Canton Galva
Galena Middle School, USD 499, Galena
Great Bend Middle School, USD 428, Great Bend
Hiawatha Middle School, USD 415, Hiawatha
Horace Mann Dual Language Magnet, USD 259, Wichita
Lakeside Jr High School, USD 272, Waconda
Minneola Elementary School, USD 219, Minneola
Oakley Middle School, USD 274, Oakley
West Franklin Middle School, USD 287, West Franklin
Anthony Elementary School, USD 453, Leavenworth
Beeson Elementary School, USD 443, Dodge City
Garfield Elementary School, USD 503, Parsons
IXL Elementary School, USD 470, Arkansas City
McCarter Elementary School, USD 501, Topeka
R B Stewart Elementary School, USD 467, Wichita County
South Hutchinson Elementary School, USD 309, Nickerson South Hutchinson
Washington Elementary School, USD 475, Geary County
Washington Elementary School, USD 489, Hays
Belleville East Elementary School, USD 109, Republic County
Colvin Elementary School, USD 259, Wichita
Eugene Ware Elementary School, USD 500, Kansas City
Guthridge Elementary School, USD 503, Parsons
McCarter Elementary School, USD 501, Topeka
Medicine Lodge Grade School, USD 254, Barber County North
Oakdale Elementary School. USD 305, Salina
Oakley Elementary School, USD 274, Oakley
Washington Elementary School, USD 475, Geary County
Fifth grade reading
Earl M Lawson Elementary School, USD 453, Leavenworth
Eisenhower Elementary School, USD 211, Norton
Faris Elementary School, USD 308, Hutchinson
Franklin Elementary School, USD 475, Geary County
Lakeside Intermediate School, USD 272, Waconda
McCarter Elementary School, USD 501, Topeka
Park Elementary School, USD 428, Great Bend
Soule Intermediate School, USD 443, Dodge City
Westside Elementary School, USD 250, Pittsburg
Sixth grade reading
Bluemont Elementary School, USD 383, Manhattan-Ogden
East Indianola Elementary School, USD 345, Seaman
Eisenhower Elementary School, USD 211, Norton
Horace Mann Dual Language Magnet, USD 259, Wichita
Lincoln Elementary School, USD 308, Hutchinson
Mound Valley Elementary School, USD 506, Labette County
Oak Grove Elementary School, USD 202, Turner
Riley Elementary School, USD 428, Great Bend
Satanta Elementary School, USD 507, Satanta
Concordia Jr/Sr High School, USD 333, Concordia
Great Bend Middle School, USD 428, Great Bend
Horace Mann Dual Language Magnet, USD 259, Wichita
Lyons Middle School, USD 405, Lyons
Marmaton Valley High School, USD 256, Marmaton Valley
Onaga Elementary School, USD 322, Onaga
Southern Coffey County Middle School, USD 245, LeRoy Gridley
Stanton County Middle School, USD 452, Stanton County
Wichita County Jr High School, USD 467, Wichita County
Galena Middle School, USD 499, Galena
Horace Mann Dual Language Magnet, USD 259, Wichita
Lyons Middle School, USD 405, Lyons
Minneola Elementary School, USD 219, Minneola
Oakley Middle School, USD 274, Oakley
Osawatomie Middle School, USD 367, Osawatomie
St. John High School, USD 350, St. John-Hudson
Tescott Elementary School, USD 240, Twin Valley
Valley Heights Jr/Sr High School, USD 498, Valley Heights