News Releases
Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - January 17, 2002
Contact:  Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136

Gov. Locke and Superintendent of Public Instruction Bergeson announce Washington Reading School of the Month

FERNDALE – Gov. Gary Locke and state Superintendent of Public Instruction Terry Bergeson today announced Central Elementary School in Ferndale as the very first Washington State Reading School of the Month, a new reading recognition program.

The Washington State Reading School of the Month honors exemplary schools for their efforts to increase reading proficiency, to implement effective practices in reading, and improve overall academic achievement. Central is the first recipient of the School of the Month honor.

“So many of our schools in Washington state are responding to the challenge of higher standards and our children are benefiting,” Locke said. “It is time to highlight the exemplary practices that are happening in our schools. We need to share these success stories, so teachers and administrators all across the state can help each other, and learn from others' successes.”

“Central Elementary is clearly a leader in education reform,” the governor continued. “My hope is that other schools can learn from their efforts.”

Central was selected for a number of reasons, including its total school commitment to focus on reading achievement. Due in part to the school’s overall comprehensive reading program, the school has made significant strides in improving student achievement as is evidenced by its scores on the Washington Assessment for Student Learning (WASL), particularly in reading. At Central, 70.6 percent of fourth-graders met the standard on the 2001 WASL in reading, up from 35 percent in 1997.

“I’m really excited about what’s happening at Central Elementary. Their success is the direct result of a concerted effort by everyone– by students, staff, teachers, parents and the community all pulling together around improved student learning,” said Terry Bergeson, state superintendent of public instruction.

“Central has decided to approach reading as a system. They’ve created time for 90-minute blocks of reading. They’ve pooled resources to provide before and after-school reading time. They’ve even found ways to provide transportation so that all students can participate in these programs,” said Bergeson. “This is the kind of collaborative effort that we’re seeing in schools making a difference in student achievement – and it’s very exciting.”

Each school selected for reading excellence will be featured on the School of the Month Web site (www.schoolofthemonth.org), which was developed in partnership with a donation from Verizon Communications. Each month, the Web site will highlight a school for their reading excellence and highlight the school’s reading and school improvement plans. Verizon also is donating 100 new books to Central’s library from the company’s “Season’s Readings” employee book drive.

For a list of grant recipients and more information relating to the Washington State Reading School of the Month, please visit: http://www.schoolofthemonth.org.

Related Links:
- Washington State Reading School of the Month
- Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction


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