NEW YORK, NY - July 14, 2005 --Six schools across the U.S. are winners of the Sixth Annual National School Change Award, which recognizes schools that have demonstrated significant change. Fordham University Graduate School of Education, Pearson Education and the American Association of School Administrators (AASA) are joint sponsors of the Awards.

The winning schools are:

• Don Pedro Albizu Campos, P.S 161 New York, NY
• Keith L. Ware Elementary Ft. Riley, KS
• Cornelia F. Bradford, P.S. 16 Jersey City, NJ
• Norview High School Norfolk, VA
• Maplewood Elementary Indianapolis, IN
• West Jasper Elementary School Jasper, AL

Each winning school receives a $5,000 grant, and participates in an awards presentation held at Fordham’s Lincoln Center campus in Manhattan on July 14th. The winning principals also participate in the 9th annual Principal Leadership Institute in New York City, and a national research project about great schools.

A blue-ribbon committee of judges chose the 2005 winners. These judges are from a wide range of disciplines, including education, corporate and non-profit organizations, and advocacy groups. Responding to 16 specific criteria, each school had to demonstrate that they have experienced substantial change.

These school-wide changes, driven by the principals at their respective schools, must reflect sharp increases in student achievement as measured by both internal (portfolios, grades, exhibitions, etc.) and external (district, state or national exams/standards) evaluations. There must be documented increases in such criteria as high school graduation rates, college acceptances, job placements, etc., as well as school recognition and awards for improved performance.

"The School Change Awards are all about teamwork and achievement," said Dr. Lew Smith, Director of the School Change Awards and the Associate Professor for the Department of Educational Leadership Administration and Police (ELAP) at Fordham University's Graduate School of Education. "Each of these schools won because they changed their culture for the better, implementing strategies, programs, and activities that significantly improved the lives of their students."

National School Change Awards Co-sponsors

About The Fordham University Graduate School of Education
Ranked in the top fifty in the nation, The Fordham University Graduate School of Education is recognized for its excellent degree programs, research endeavors, innovative initiatives, wide range of partnerships, and strong presence in both non-public and public schools.

About Pearson Education
Educating 100 million people worldwide, Pearson Education is the global leader in educational publishing. With such renowned brands as Pearson Prentice Hall, Pearson Scott Foresman, Pearson Addison Wesley, Pearson Benjamin Cummings and many others, Pearson Education provides quality content, assessment tools and educational services in all available media, spanning the learning curve from birth through college and beyond. Pearson Education is part of Pearson (NYSE:PSO), the international media company. Pearson's other businesses include the Financial Times Group and the Penguin Group.

ASSA
Founded in 1865, the American Association of School Administrators is the professional organization for over 14,000 educational leaders across America and in many other countries. AASA's mission is to support and develop effective school system leaders who are dedicated to the highest quality public education for all children.

Contact:
Pearson Education:
Rod Granger
212-782-3486
rod.granger@pearsoned.com

Fordham:
Dr. Lew Smith
(212) 636-6433
lewsmith@fordham.edu