WASHINGTON,
D.C. – U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) today announced a $167,607
Department of Education Development and Implementation Grant to Evanston/Skokie
School District 65.
Schakowsky,
who contacted the Department of Education on behalf of the District’s grant
application, said that this money will be used to help educators and parents
implement a program so students with limited English proficiency can achieve
greater results in the classrooms. Educators and parents developed Project
CALL, Cooperative Achievement for Language Learners, to help students in
Washington and Orrington Elementary Schools.
“I
am very pleased that together we were successful in securing this grant.
Parents and educators in SD 65 ought to be commended for developing Project
CALL, an innovative approach to our children’s educational needs and an
assurance to their future success,” Schakowsky said.
“This
grant will go a long way to help us achieve our goals to meet the educational
needs of our limited-English-proficient students and their families,” said
Hardy Murphy, District 65 superintendent of schools. “We are grateful
to Representative Schakowsky and the Department of Education for providing
us with the opportunity to help our students meet and exceed state standards
in reading, math and writing, while guiding their families to be a positive
influence in their children’s education.”
Limited
English proficient students, who are predominantly African Americans and
Hispanics, lag in achievement scores in the classrooms. To reduce
that gap and accelerate learning, Project CALL was developed. Under
the project, School District 65 staff will receive intensive professional
development training and will implement two-way immersion classrooms and
after-school and summer programs. In addition, a family involvement
and education program will be implemented. |