Howard Elementary is one of seven schools that will receive a state award this year for closing the achievement gap between white students and minorities.
To receive the Celebrating Student Success Award, progress by minority subgroups such as English language learners on standardized tests in reading and math must equal or exceed that among the white student population.
An Oregon Department of Education panel of educators and community members selects the winners from a group of eligible schools based on the strategies they've used to close the achievement gap.
"We are so excited," said Howard Principal Sallie Johnson. "This is an absolute honor."
Other award recipients include Armand Larive Middle School in Hermiston, Prairie Mountain School in Eugene, Keizer Elementary in Keizer, Metzger Elementary in Tigard, Gilbert Heights Elementary in Portland and another public school to be announced later.
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"These schools prove that students can overcome poverty, cultural differences and other challenges and succeed," said State Schools Superintendent Susan Castillo in a statement late Monday.
ODE officials said they have made an effort to ensure information about the methods the award recipients have used are available to other schools at the conference.
On average, Howard Elementary's white students' scores jumped about 6.1 points in math and 6.8 points in reading between the 2004-05 and 2005-06 school year.
Gains among other subgroups, including Hispanic, those with limited English proficiency, special education pupils and economically disadvantaged, ranged from 5.25 points to 11.4 points in math and between 5.9 points and 9.6 points in reading.
African-American, Native American and Asian students are not counted as subgroups at Howard because there are six or fewer pupils in each group.
"We look for schools that have significant poverty and racial diversity," said Patrick Burk, ODE chief policy officer.
Johnson attributed Howard's success on standardized tests primarily to the Oregon Reading First research-based intervention program for children in kindergarten through second grade in high-poverty schools.
The four Medford schools — Howard, Jackson, Oak Grove and Jefferson — that have used the program for the past four years consistently have made more headway in standardized test scores in reading than their 10 sister schools in the Medford School District, officials said.
"It's kind of frustrating to know we could be doing this program at all the schools if we had the money," said Julie York, Medford student services director. "We are hampered by our budget in providing teacher training, the curriculum and other resources to do the program."
Reach reporter Paris Achen by calling 541-776-4459 or pachen@mailtribune.com.
Oregon Reading First program
Oregon Reading First is funded by an annual federal grant that pays for faculty training and coaching, curriculum and data tracking on pupils.
The program involves individually testing students at least three times a year on letter-naming, sounds, applying phonics to words and oral-reading fluency.
The tests allow teachers to closely monitor each student's progress and adapt instruction to their needs.
Training also has prompted regular meetings among teachers to promote collaborative instruction and track students' progress from grade to grade.
