Published Thursday, December 12, 2002
HARRISBURG (AP) -- The State Education Department on Tuesday awarded $24.6 million in grants to 878 schools that improved their scores on basic skills tests, boosted their attendance rates, or showed consistently high achievement in both areas.
Education Secretary Charles Zogby made the announcement during visits to Fairview Elementary School in Waynesboro and Goode Elementary School in York, two schools that received the "performance-incentive" grants.
Seven schools that were designated Governor's Schools of Achievement each received $25,000 for improving their state assessment test scores by at least 50 points for each of the last three years.
Mercer County schools received a total of $327,293 in performance grants that broke down as follows:
» Commodore Perry -- $24,324
» Farrell -- $9,933
» Grove City -- $41,380
» Jamestown -- $52,392
» Keystone Education Center -- $22,272
» Reynolds -- $96,276
» Sharon -- $22,260
» West Middlesex -- $58,456
The education department this year created a new award category for schools in which the number of students with "below-basic" assessment test scores has decreased. The awards were given for declines in special education students, English as a Second Language students, or those from low-income families.
The state started the program in 1998.
The schools must spend at least 50 percent of the award on improving instructional programs, and can spend up to 25 percent on rewards for teachers. A school committee determines how to spend the remaining money.