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Western Village Academy Operated by INTEGRIS Health is Named Charter School of the Year
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May 16, 2007
Oklahoma City - The Center for Education Reform (CER) honored 53 of the nation’s best charter schools as part of its National Charter School of the Year program held in Washington, D.C., at the National Press Club and on Capitol Hill earlier today.
Chosen from the nation’s nearly 4,000 charter schools for their achievement, innovation, and accountability, the honorees hailed from 24 states. Western Village Academy was the only charter school in Oklahoma to make the list.
All 3,940 U.S. charter schools were eligible for the honor. The selection process began in the fall of 2006, with all schools asked to respond to CER’s annual survey. A small percentage of survey respondents were then invited to submit detailed information for consideration for this recognition.
“We commend all of the honorees for their achievement,” says CER President Jeanne Allen. “They are among the vanguard of a school choice movement that provides more than one million children an educational opportunity that might otherwise be unavailable.”
Evaluation of the schools proceeded along four themes: achievement, planning and execution, satisfaction, and policies and programs. Each theme included additional criteria (12 in total), such as improvement over time, percentage of at-risk students served, meeting mission and goals, and parental involvement. CER identified 53 exceptional schools deserving recognition.
“Charter schools across the nation succeed despite limited resources and oftentimes hostile bureaucratic environments,” says Ms. Allen. “They are the heroes in a civil rights struggle for educational choice, particularly for children and parents of limited means. We’re delighted to recognize some truly shining examples.”
“This is a wonderful tribute to years of hard work and dedication of our talented and dedicated faculty and staff at WVA, and our extended family of supporters; the INTEGRIS board of directors who remain committed to making a difference for these children; 300 devoted mentors who give of themselves each week; supportive parents, a host of caring volunteers, and all of those who have made school choice a possibility in Oklahoma,” says Western Village Academy Director Tobi Campbell. “All deserve shared credit and recognition for their contributions to our success, and the success of other charter schools in Oklahoma.”
After the ceremonies, education writers Jay Mathews of the Washington Post and Greg Toppo of USA Today spoke to representatives from the schools at a Press Club luncheon. The representatives later had a chance to hear from Education Secretary Margaret Spellings and speak with members of Congress at an event on Capitol Hill. Each school received a $500 award.
For a complete list of the 53 schools honored today, visit www.edreform.com/csoy/.
The Center for Education Reform (CER) creates opportunities for and challenges obstacles to better education for America’s communities. Founded in 1993, CER combines education policy with grassroots advocacy to foster positive and bold education reforms. For more information, visit www.edreform.com.
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INTEGRIS Health Corporate Communications
3030 N.W. Expressway
Suite 1620
Oklahoma City, 73112
(405) 951-4826 |
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