Three Local Schools Honored As ‘Title I Achieving Schools’

PALM SPRINGS – Two schools in the Palm Springs Unified School District were on the list of 238 in the state honored by the State of California for academic achievement.

Katherine Finchy Elementary in Palm Springs and Sunny Sands Elementary in Cathedral City both received the 2009-10 Title I Academic Achievement Award, as did Martin Van Buren Elementary School in Indio. It’s given to schools receiving federal Title 1 funds as authorized by the “No Child Left Behind Act.”

Title 1 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.

O’Connell called Finchy Principal Mark Arnold and Sunny Sands Principal Karen Cornett to convey the good news and express his own congratulations and gratitude.

“It is definitely worthwhile to personally give credit where credit is due,” said O’Connell. “I wanted to let these school leaders know that their hard work has not gone unnoticed or unappreciatedTo meet the criteria for this distinction, the school must demonstrate that all students are making significant progress toward proficiency on California’s academic content standards. Additionally, the school’s socioeconomically disadvantaged students must have doubled the achievement targets set for them for two consecutive years.

The will be honored at a reception and banquet at the Disneyland Hotel on April 21.