Four schools in the Long Beach Unified School District are among the 209 that were honored Wednesday by State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson for the 2010-11 Title I Academic Achievement Award. Addams, Henry and Buffum elementary schools in Long Beach and Madison Elementary in Lakewood were all selected as recipients of the award.
“These awards go to schools that especially excel at helping disadvantaged children,” said Chris Eftychiou, public information director for LBUSD. “One of our local winners, Buffum, will be closed down next school year due to the state’s ongoing, multi-billion-dollar cuts to public education.”
The Title I Academic Achievement Award is given only to schools receiving federal Title I funds as authorized by the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. Title I is the single largest federal educational program for K-12 public education. Title I funds assist schools in meeting the educational needs of students living near or at the poverty level. Of the more than 9,000 schools in California, more than 6,000 of them participate in the Title I program.
“These schools have demonstrated exceptional commitment to the education of their students and have achieved impressive results,” said Torlakson. “I congratulate all those who put forth the extra effort that resulted in this prestigious award: school administrators and staffs, teachers, parents, and, of course, the students themselves.”
