Each year, the Prince William County Public Schools Education Foundation funds a variety of new and innovative programs that enrich the lives of the more than 70,000 school children in Prince William County. These programs are not normally possible through limited school budgets.
Read to Achieve with KidBiz
Prince William County, VA – On June 7, 2005, the Prince William County Public Schools Education Foundation Board of Directors voted to financially support the school system’s purchase and implementation of the reading and writing software product, KidBiz, for all third grade students throughout the county.
The Foundation is embarking on a three year, $250,000 fundraising campaign to support this project for PWCS students. The campaign officially launched on June 30, at the Foundation’s kick-off reception at Old Hickory Golf Club.
The program, Read to Achieve with KidBiz, will impact a projected total of 5,000 third grade students.
KidBiz is a web-based program developed by New Jersey-based Achieve 3000, which creates a unique profile for each student based upon their age and current reading/writing achievement levels. It then provides a variety of cross-curricular informational texts based on news-related, non-fiction stories. It then offers the student an opportunity to read the text and proffers questions to ascertain the student’s comprehension. The questions are based on the Virginia Standards of Learning as well as the National Reading Panel and the National Writing Commission. As the student’s reading level advances, the text and comprehension assignments will adjust to the student’s improved level. To try the KidBiz program, please visit www.kidbiz3000.com/try.
The Education Foundation chose to support this project because it meets critical needs of the current student body and is a product that can be worked on with family members, after school and during the summer months. The program has been used successfully in several school systems in New Jersey, Texas, the District of Columbia, and Illinois. Additionally the American Federation of Teachers recently stated that “Teaching Student to read by the end of the third grade is the single most important task assigned to elementary schools.” In Prince William County, the 2003-04 Stanford 9 Battery tests indicated that 43% of all students at the beginning of fourth grade were reading below grade level. These test scores indicate a strong need for reading improvement throughout the county.
Last year the program was piloted in Prince William County at Porter Traditional Elementary School and had great results. Michelle Esmacher, a teacher at Porter had this to say “KidBiz allows flexible teaching that is kid-friendly! As a second grade teacher with readers ranging from first to fourth grade, KidBiz has been a powerful teaching resource. Each student reads the same non-fiction article, only tailored to their independent reading level! KidBiz has helped boost my students’ ability to read and comprehend non-fiction, and, as a bonus, we have had some wonderful discussions about current events.”
Innovative Grants
Through its Innovative Grants Program, the Foundation invests in programs that directly and measurably impact student achievement. These programs may impact a single classroom, a team of teachers, an individual school or the entire school division. Whatever their size, scope or purpose, they represent a profound belief that every child can be successful. For a full description of all projects funded under the Innovative Grants Program during the 2003-04, 2004-05, and 2005-06 school years, click here.
Dr. Edward L. Kelly Memorial Scholarship
This scholarship was established in the name of former PWCS Superintendent Dr. Edward L. Kelly to provide financial assistance to students who plan to pursue a career in education. In the inaugural year of the Dr. Edward L. Kelly Memorial Scholarship program, the Education Foundation awarded scholarships in the amount of $1,000 to three Prince William County Public Schools students.
Only two students from each county high school may apply for this scholarship each year, and applications must be submitted through a designated coordinator from each school. Individual school deadlines vary, but coordinators must submit applications for this year's scholarship cycle by April 11, 2008. Click here for more information and an application packet.
For more information about any of the Education Foundation initiatives, contact Sharon Henry at 703. 791.8001 or by email at HENRYSW@pwcs.edu
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