[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 60 (Thursday, April 29, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Page S4469]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        RECOGNIZING LIBERTY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN MARYSVILLE, WA.

 Mr. GORTON. Mr. President, this week's Innovation in Education 
Award recipient is a remarkable school, Liberty Elementary, in 
Marysville, Washington. With help from school staff and led by 
Principal Paula Jones, Liberty Elementary's students have made 
outstanding advances in their reading performance.
  Historically, this school has not shown great success in student 
standardized test results. To improve those results, the school's staff 
researched proven ``best practices'' for improving student reading. The 
staff eventually selected a program called ``Success For All'' that 
focuses on early intervention and personal attention to promote 
literacy.
  Liberty Elementary's parents and staff recognized that in order for 
this program to succeed, they needed to be closely involved. So the 
parents and staff established ``Family Fun Night'' each month to 
educate families on the importance of reading, the benefits of 
education reform, and how to feel more comfortable as active partners 
in their children's education. Liberty's staff attends these family 
activities without extra compensation. The staff has also teamed up 
with local businesses to help acknowledge outstanding participation and 
achievement by students and parents.
  Two years ago, Liberty teachers, parents, and students decided to 
refocus their efforts on reading. Now 80% of the students are reading 
at current grade level and above--a tremendous increase of 58%. 
Students at Liberty are now proud and successful readers thanks to the 
hard work of the Liberty staff and the support from their devoted 
parents and community.
  What is noteworthy about Liberty is that the students became better 
readers because the community became more involved with its children. 
This Innovation in Education award is another example of how local 
communities really do know best. Local educators and parents work with 
our children every day and know what needs improvement. They deserve 
our support and should have more decision-making authority over how 
federal education dollars are to be spent. Educators from Washington 
state and from across the country need and deserve more flexibility and 
more control over their classrooms. Liberty Elementary and schools like 
it are the reasons why I will fight to return that power to our local 
schools where it belongs.

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