For immediate releasecontact Susanne Smith, (503) 947-5637 July 7, 2010 Superintendent Susan Castillo Announces $34.4 Million in Federal Funding to Turn Around Twelve Persistently Lowest-Achieving Schools SALEM – State Schools Superintendent Susan Castillo announced today that Oregon was awarded $34.4 million through the School Improvement Grants (SIG) program from the U.S. Department of Education. This federal funding is an allocation from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). Twelve Oregon schools have been selected to receive the grants over a three year period. “Today marks an important milestone in our work to close the persistent achievement gap that exists in our lowest-achieving schools,” said Castillo. “Our students deserve dramatic improvements that will lead to better education outcomes. Each of these schools have committed to making serious changes in their education programs. Their courage to make the hard choices necessary for their students will serve as a model of reform for our state in years to come.” The Oregon Department of Education selected the following schools based on a variety of factors, such as reading and math scores from 2007-09; their Adequate Yearly Progress status as defined by the No Child Left Behind Act; and graduation rates for secondary schools. The identified schools were invited to apply for the SIG funding and were selected based on their demonstrated need and commitment to use the funds to provide adequate resources in order to substantially raise the achievement of their students. School Improvement Grant Recipients and Total Award Amounts: Bend LaPine School District Marshall Alternative High School– $2,000,000 Jefferson County School District 509J Madras High School– $3,707,840 Klamath Falls City School District Eagle Ridge High School– $2,000,000 Ontario School District Ontario High School– $3,240,000 Portland School District Arts, Communication, & Technology School at Roosevelt– $2,350,000 Spanish English International School at Roosevelt– $2,350,000 Pursuit of Wellness Education School at Roosevelt– $3,000,000 Oregon City School District Service Learning Academy Alternative High School– $1,475,220 Salem Keizer School District Early College Alternative High School– $2,000,000 Hallman Elementary School– $3,000,000 McKay High School, Salem SD– $5,607,610 Roberts Alternative High School– $2,000,000 The federal SIG program is authorized under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act and is intended to provide all children equal access to education. SIG is designed to improve student achievement in schools identified for program improvements, corrective action, or restructuring. These schools are required to use SIG program resources to fund school turnaround activities to make dramatic changes to improve teaching and learning and have committed to the following: (1) replace the principal and take steps to increase teacher and school leader effectiveness; (2) institute comprehensive instructional reforms; (3) increase learning time and create community-oriented schools; and (4) provide operational flexibility and sustained support. Schools will start implementing interventions for the 2010-11 school year. For more information regarding the criteria for selection go to: http://www.ode.state.or.us/superintendent/priorities/sig-definition-and-criteria-for-identification.doc 
To access Oregon’s SIG application: http://www2.ed.gov/programs/sif/summary/orapp.pdf 
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