Celes HPSG 07

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May 1, 2007
For immediate release

The Gevirtz School’s Center for Educational Leadership and Effective Schools (CELES) helped eight local schools win over $1.8 million in grant money each year for up to four years. The funds, part of the High Priority Schools Grant (HPSG) program, are designed to provide resources for underperforming schools to develop plans for student improvement. Working side by side with the schools, located in the Lancaster School District and the Santa Maria-Bonita School District, CELES staff members and consultants were an integral part of securing the funding.

CELES staff worked rigorously for 26 full days, committing several staff members around the clock to the application process. The hard work paid off, however, when it was announced that each school’s application was accepted. Acceptable costs for the money to cover include: salaries and benefits for technical assistance, release days for planning meetings, substitute costs, teacher and principal training, and supplies.

“This program [HPSG] helps districts with low-performing schools to be more active in helping children sooner than later in their academic careers,” says State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell. “These funds will provide grantees the resources they need to develop plans to improve student achievement.”

“We are thrilled that we were able to provide meaningful technical assistance to the schools and districts in our partnership,” says Basha Millhollen, Director of CELES. “We are confident that the schools participating in the HPSG will show academic gains in the future.”

The schools receiving HPSG funds are: Adam Elementary, Alvin Elementary, Arellanes Jr. High, Liberty Elementary, Oakley Elementary, Rice Elementary, and Sanchez Elementary in the Santa Maria-Bonita School District and Mariposa Elementary in the Lancaster School District.

The Center for Educational Leadership and Effective Schools, based in the Gevirtz Graduate School of Education at UC Santa Barbara, works to promote equity in education by closing achievement gaps, developing new leaders, and creating dynamic partnerships between all levels of education.

[Basha Millhollen is available for interviews; contact George Yatchisin at 805 893 5789]
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