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		Past Extra Credits December 17 All issues

No Child Left Behind’s Comprehensive School Reform (CSR) grant program is designed to increase student achievement by assisting public schools across the country with implementing comprehensive reforms that are grounded in scientifically based research and effective practices. The following are excerpts from a recent article in The Clanton Advertiser (AL) highlighting how two schools in Chilton County, Alabama will use their CSR grants to improve student achievement:

“Clanton Elementary School is one of two schools in Chilton County receiving $95,000 in federal grant money as part of a comprehensive school reform grant. The school, along with Clanton Intermediate, will use the money toward furthering the learning process for students.

“‘The faculty and staff are very excited to receive this grant and have the opportunity to pursue school reform,’ said Principal Rebecca Threlkeld. ‘It’s awarded to schools that have shown a commitment to comprehensive school reform in reaching all students.’ She said the school will target reading instruction with the funds provided by the grant. This will allow them to identify reading deficits in children and provide reading intervention for the deficits, she explained.”

“‘Clanton Elementary School is committed to improving reading performance and assuring all students are reading on grade level by the close of grade two,’ Threlkeld said. The school could possibly receive more grant money, as much as $100,000 per year until three years is up. To do so, all schools receiving the funds must submit ongoing school improvement plans to the state department of education, through which the grant money is administered.

“Clanton Intermediate School will soon receive $95,000 in grant money that will be used to increase technology at the school and provide students with additional learning materials, announced Principal Dennis Cobb. … ‘We are extremely excited, and we know it will improve and enhance the education that is offered to our students here,’ Cobb said.

“Over the next year the school intends to use the majority of the money to purchase learning materials and computers for its computer lab. … The money could also fund up to 600 accelerated reader books, which would be put to good use because the school’s library circulation exceeded 15,000 books for the first semester of this year, Cobb pointed out.”

The complete text of this article is available online.