Riley Announces $6.6 Million to Florida for Comprehensive School Reform Programs

US Education Department Press Releases

Archived: Riley Announces $6.6 Million to Florida for Comprehensive School Reform Programs A r c h i v e d  I n f o r m a t i o n

FOR RELEASE December 29, 1998

Contact: Melinda Kitchell Malico (202) 401-1008

RILEY ANNOUNCES $6.6 MILLION TO FLORIDA FOR COMPREHENSIVE SCHOOL REFORM PROGRAMS

Florida has received $6.6 million in a new federal education grant to help raise student achievement under comprehensive, research-driven approaches that strengthen entire schools and make their curricula more rigorous, U.S. Secretary of Education Richard W. Riley announced today.

A total of 36 states have shared in $102 million awarded to date. Total funding for the program is $145 million. Additional states have applied and will be funded next year; states have until June 30, 1999 to seek funding.

"These grants will both start and speed up needed schoolwide change in virtually all aspects of participating schools," Riley said. "They will expand both the quality and scope of reform efforts that enable all children, particularly at-risk youth, to meet challenging academic standards -- and help turn around low-performing schools."

The comprehensive reform program is designed to raise standards and build on other state and local efforts, through Title I and other reform programs. Under Title I, states must set measurable student performance goals and tie them to state content and performance standards. The comprehensive school reform grants will support local schools in achieving their goals and in helping students meet state standards.

Riley noted that the demonstration program will help point the way toward more effective use of federal funds for Title I "schoolwide programs" in more than 25,000 high-poverty schools that have a "schoolwide" option for use of Title I funds. States are also encouraged to use comprehensive school reform funds to help improve schools that have been identified as in need of improvement because of low student achievement.

Florida will use about $5.4 million of the grant to make awards to support reform efforts in about 108 schools served by the federal Title I program, particularly schools that have been identified as in need of improvement due to low student achievement. About $1.2 million will be made available to assist up to 24 additional schools, including non-Title I schools, that need to substantially raise student achievement. Other factors such as dropout rates in secondary schools will also be considered in making awards. Florida plans to begin making awards to local school districts in spring 1999.

Florida schools receiving federal funds will integrate their comprehensive school reform efforts into school improvement plans required by the state. The plans address state educational goals for student performance, the learning environment and other critical areas such as staff professional development and parental involvement. As part of Florida's school improvement and accountability system, participating schools will develop entire-school reform strategies to help all students meet challenging state standards.

Organized by the Florida Education Department and federally funded regional technical assistance providers, regional meetings and training sessions and a statewide showcase highlighting leading school reform models are planned for this spring. The sessions will help schools develop comprehensive school reform programs that meet local needs. Later, educators will get answers to specific questions through regional hotlines; and state- and district-supported networks will let schools share lessons learned and progress made with other schools.

School districts apply to the state on behalf of schools, groups of schools or charter schools, and describe the comprehensive program they will use and the evidence that it will improve student achievement. In funding schools, states may consider factors such as high dropout rates and are encouraged to support both urban and rural school districts throughout the state. Schools must integrate curriculum and instruction; student assessment; professional development; parent involvement and school management -- and bring in help from outside partners with experience in school reform.

While policy makers can select any comprehensive reform program with a successful and rigorous track record, including locally developed approaches, 17 models were specifically included in the legislation as examples. The models range from Success for All, a pre-K-6 program developed by Johns Hopkins University that emphasizes early reading, family involvement and cooperative learning, to the Modern Red Schoolhouse, a K-12 program developed by the Hudson Institute that offers a rigorous curriculum and high standards, emphasizes character, utilizes technology and individualizes student learning plans.

Also coined "Obey-Porter" for the two members of Congress who first introduced the proposal, the legislation provides funds to assist more than 2,000 schools this school year. Participating schools will receive at least $50,000 of comprehensive school reform funds per year, renewable for up to three years.