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10 schools win Apple Awards worth $25,000
Students to choose how capital construction prize money is spent
OLYMPIA – October 26, 2006 - Students in 10 Washington elementary schools will soon have a lucrative dilemma on their hands – how to spend an unexpected $25,000 windfall for achieving the greatest gains on the Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL) this past year.
The Apple Awards, which are funded by the Legislature, provide a cash prize to 10 elementary schools with significant increases in the percent of fourth-graders meeting the combined reading, writing and math standards on the WASL from one school year to the next.
The schools earning the Apple Awards based on 2004-05 and 2005-06 results: Morgen Owings Elementary (Lake Chelan School District); Springdale Elementary (Mary Walker School District); Nespelem Elementary (Nespelem School District); Thorndyke Elementary (Tukwila School District); Wildwood Elementary (Federal Way School District); John Muir Elementary and Van Asselt Elementary (Seattle School District); Daffodil Valley Elementary (Sumner School District); Everson Elementary (Nooksack Valley School District); and Grapeview School (Grapeview School District).
Staff from the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction dropped by Thorndyke, Van Asselt and John Muir elementary schools this morning and surprised the students and employees with the good news. OSPI will make similar visits to the other seven schools soon.
The $25,000 grants may be used for capital construction projects on school grounds or on other public property in the community, city or county in which the district is located. The students themselves will determine how to spend the money.
"The Apple Awards give students a fun opportunity to pick a capital project of their own design and see it come to life," said Terry Bergeson, state superintendent of public instruction. "This is a nice reward for the students, teachers and community as a celebration of stronger schools and increased student achievement."
The winning schools were identified by the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction by comparing the recently released 2006 WASL results with those achieved in the 2004-05 school year.
The Apple Award Construction Achievement Grants were originally developed by the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction and state Rep. Hans Dunshee, chair of the House Capital Budget Committee. Projects selected by the students must meet particular guidelines and be approved the school district.
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