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Schools Awarded for Achievement and Improvement
 MEDIA CONTACT  - GaDOE Communications Office, (404) 463-1487,  dtofig@gadoe.org        SEPTEMBER 9, 2008  -- State Superintendent of Schools Kathy Cox today announced the winners of the inaugural Superintendent's Distinguished Achievement awards.     These awards honor schools that had the highest achievement and greatest improvement on state curriculum tests. A certificate has been sent to the winning schools acknowledging their achievement.     "It is so important to acknowledge the achievement and progress of our schools," said State Superintendent of Schools Kathy Cox. "These awards are just a token of our appreciation for the hard work that goes into teaching and supporting students every day. Congratulations to all the winners!"     The Superintendent's Distinguished Achievement Awards are based on the performance of students on the Criterion-Referenced Competency Tests (CRCT), the Georgia High School Graduation Tests (GHSGT) and the End-of-Course-Tests (EOCT). These awards acknowledge schools in two categories:     - IMPROVEMENT: The ten schools in each honored subject area and grade that had the greatest improvement in the percentage of students meeting or exceeding standards.     - ACHIEVEMENT: The ten schools in each honored subject area and grade that had the highest percentage of students score in the exceeds category.     Of the Improvement winners, Superintendent Cox said: "We have schools all over the state that are moving the needle quickly in all areas. This type of improvement doesn't happen in a vacuum -- it takes collaboration, dedication and focus."     Of the Achievement winners, Superintendent Cox said: "It is crucial that we recognize those schools that have large numbers of students showing the highest levels of achievement. These schools have high expectations for all of their students and their students are reaching -- and exceeding -- those expectations.”     The Superintendent's Distinguished Achievement Awards are being handed out in the following subjects and grades.  -  READING and ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS : Grades 1-8 Reading CRCT; Grades 2 & 6 English Language Arts CRCT; 9th Grade Literature EOCT (high school only); American Literature EOCT; English Language Arts & Reading GHSGT  -  MATHEMATICS : Grades 1-8 Mathematics CRCT; Algebra 1 EOCT; Geometry EOCT; Mathematics GHSGT  -  SOCIAL STUDIES : Grades 4 & 8 CRCT; U.S. History EOCT; Economics EOCT; Social Studies GHSGT  -  SCIENCE : Grades 5-8 CRCT; Physical Science EOCT; Biology EOCT   Editor's Note:  - Due to the implementation of the state's new curriculum, the Georgia Performance Standards, there are some tests that did not have two years of comparative data and, therefore, Improvement awards could not be given. Those areas are Mathematics CRCT in Grades 3, 4, 5 and 8; Social Studies CRCT in grade 8; English Language Arts/Reading and Science GHSGTs and U.S. History and Economics End-of-Course-Tests. Achievement awards were given in these areas.  - These awards are separate from other awards programs, including the  Single Statewide Accountability System  awards, the Title I Distinguished Schools and Georgia  Schools of Excellence   Superintendent's Distinguished Achievement Award Winners -  Criterion-Referenced Competency Test for Achievement  -  Criterion-Referenced Competency Test for Improvement  -  Georgia High School Graduation Test for Achievement  -  Georgia High School Graduation Test for Improvement  -  End-of-Course-Test for Achievement  -  End-of-Course-Test for Improvement
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