Oswego High School: No Better Place to Learn
"Confidence in Kansas Public Education Task Force"
Rod Wittmer
November 10, 2005
TOPEKA -- The Confidence in Kansas Public Education Task Force has named Oswego High School a recipient of the 2005 Challenge Award. The Challenge Awards are designed to recognize Kansas schools that are making a significant difference in student achievement despite facing significant challenges in school population.
Ninety-two Certificates of Merit were presented to 81 Kansas schools at a special ceremony Nov. 9 at Junction City High School, 900 N. Eisenhower, Junction City. The certificates recognize performance on state assessments in reading and/or mathematics that exceeds normal expectations based on the ethnicity and socio-economic status of those taking the test.
Data gathered through the Quality Performance Accreditation (QPA) process has shown that the greatest achievement gap occurs in schools with high ethnic populations, as well as a high percentage of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunches. The schools receiving the Challenge Award all have such populations, but have managed to post state assessment scores above what would normally be expected among those populations.
"Kansas educators have long worked from the belief that all children can learn. The federal No Child Left Behind legislation also supports that contention," said Charles Volland, chairman of the Confidence in Kansas Public Education Task Force. "The purpose of this award program is to both affirm that belief and recognize those schools that have been successful in putting that belief into action."
In addition to recognizing schools for their achievements in reaching challenging populations, the Task Force also wanted to provide a way for other schools to learn how Challenge Award winners are making a difference in student achievement. Each of the Challenge Award winners will be asked to provide narrative information on the instructional strategies and techniques used to achieve their success. That information will then be made available to other schools.
(To view Oswego High School's Executive Summary, click here.)
Oswego High School has received the previous awards from the Confidence in Kansas Public Education Task Force:
- Certificate of Merit for outstanding accomplishments in closing the achievement gap in 10th Grade Math on the 2002 Kansas Assessment.
- Certificate of Recognition for outstanding accomplishments in closing the achievement gap in 10th Grade Math on the 2004 Kansas Assessment.
- Certificate of Recognition for outstanding accomplishments in closing the achievement gap in 11th Grade Reading on the 2004 Kansas Assessment.
To view the list of the schools
receiving a 2005 Challenge Award, click here.
The list includes the subject area and grade level for which the
school is being recognized.
To view the criteria a school must meet to receive an award, click here.
For a review of strategies and programs that were mentioned as effective in helping achieve an Award, click here.
