Benwood Elementary Schools Post Higher Gains in Reading Than Top 10% in State


By Beverly Carroll
Friday, February 6, 2004
Chattanooga Times Free Press

Pupils at nine Hamilton County elementary schools posted higher academic gains in reading than those at the top 10 percent of all elementary schools in Tennessee, according to Dan Challener, president of the Public Education Foundation.

'This is second full year for the PEF-Benwood initiative, and it is the second year we have shown tremendous gains in reading,' Mr. Challener said Thursday. 'With the help of all the dedicated educators and community partners, we are well on our way to our five-year goal of having all third-graders at the nine schools reading at or above grade level.'

The nine schools — Clifton Hills, Calvin Donaldson, East Lake, East Side, Hardy, Hillcrest, Howard, Orchard Knob and Woodmore — are in the third year of a five-year, $5 million grant from the Benwood Foundation. The first year was a planning year. The goal is for 100 percent of all pupils to be reading at or above grade level by third grade. Benwood Foundation executive Corrinne Allen said the schools’ progress proves that with appropriate resources, focused appropriately, all children can learn. 'This program is unique because it took nine of the most challenged schools, and all are proving that if you align resources and provide support, every child will learn,' Ms. Allen said.

The school scores are from the Tennessee Value-Added Assessment, which uses data from standardized tests to measure the growth in one year in five academic areas. A score of 100 means a child learned enough to be prepared for the next grade.

During a reception at Hardy Elementary School, fifth-grader Bria Sibley told elected city and county officials what the Benwood programs meant to her.

'I didn’t always love to read,' the 10-year-old said. 'But the extra time we spend on reading and writing helps me do better in all my subjects.'

The schools are Title I schools, which means more than 50 percent of the pupils qualify for the federal free and reducedprice lunch program. In most of the Benwood schools the majority of pupils meet that qualification.

The 2003 TVAAS showed an average score for the nine schools of 133.5 percent in reading, compared to the state average of 99.1 percent and the national average of 100 percent.
Last year, six of the nine schools were on academic probation under the state accountability program. This year, with schools having to meet federal and state standards, Howard and Calvin Donaldson moved to improving status.

School officials said they hope two more schools will move off probation status after taking state tests next month. The schools are showing gains on the standardized tests, but they are still below the national median score of 50. Schools Superintendent Jesse Register said it takes time for improvements like the Benwood initiative to show up on state tests.
'We are closing the achievement gap,' Dr. Register said. 'And we think these schools will make adequate yearly progress.' The PEF, which administers the Benwood grant, also gave $2.5 million to the program, Mr. Challener said. School districts from around the country have inquired about the grant program, which pay for extra academic help for students, including before- and after-school tutoring and teacher training.

Each school also has a fulltime consulting teacher, a position partially funded by the $100,000 per school allotment, Mr. Challener said.