[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 40 (Monday, April 3, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2727-S2728]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           CENTURY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, PARK RAPIDS, MINNESOTA

 Mr. DAYTON. Mr. President, I rise today to honor Century 
Elementary School, in Park Rapids, MN, which recently earned an Award 
for Excellence in Education for its exceptional and innovative 
achievements in educating children.
  Century Elementary School is truly a model of educational success. 
The school, which enrols a large percentage of children from low-income 
families, has achieved significant academic success.
  Test scores in 2005 qualified the school for four stars in reading 
and five stars in mathematics from the Minnesota Department of 
Education. In addition to receiving three stars in both reading and 
mathematics for having made adequate yearly progress, the school 
received an additional star in reading and math for outstanding 
performance compared to schools with similar percentages of low-income 
pupils. It received another star in math for having more than 30 
percent of its students scoring at Level 5 on their Minnesota 
Comprehensive Assessments, the highest possible level on these 
statewide tests.
  The year 2005 was the second successive year in which Century School 
received four or five stars. Last year, the school received five-star 
status in reading and four-star status in mathematics.
  The Park Rapids School District has also recognized the advantages of 
a full-day kindergarten program, and although the State funds a half-
day program, the local school board has allocated sufficient funds to 
make possible the full-day program.
  Century Elementary's success is even more remarkable considering the 
limited amount of funding available for the school district. The 
district has attempted to pass an operating levy referendum four times 
to make up for lack of adequate funding from the State of Minnesota, 
but these referenda failed to be approved. The district has been forced 
to lay off 42 teachers over the past 4 years accounting for a 30-
percent reduction in total teachers.
  Much of the credit for Century Elementary School's success belongs to 
its

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principal, Mitch Peterson, and the dedicated teachers. The students and 
staff at Century Elementary School understand that, in order to be 
successful, a school must go beyond achieving academic success; it must 
also provide a nurturing environment where students can develop the 
knowledge, skills, and attitudes for success throughout life. All of 
the faculty, staff, and students at Century Elementary School should be 
very proud of their accomplishments.
  I congratulate Century Elementary School in Park Rapids for winning 
the Award for Excellence in Education and for its exceptional 
contributions to education in Minnesota.

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