2002 EXEMPLARY SCHOOLS OF WRITING

CONGRATULATIONS TO...

Two Georgia Schools Recognized For Exemplary Writing

Crisp County Middle School in Cordele, Georgia and Carver Elementary School of Terrell County Schools in Dawson, Georgia will receive the 2002 Writing to Win Exemplary School of Writing award.

There were two factors that contributed to the schools' selection. The first was the high percentage of teachers whose writing in the class met the high Writing to Win standards. The second was the impressive improvement in students' scores on Georgia's 5th and 8th grade writing tests.

Crisp County Middle School—In January 2001, 69% of the 8th graders met or surpassed the stated standard of the Middle Grades Writing Assessment. In 2002, that percentage rose to over 91%. By comparison, 87% of 8th graders statewide met or surpassed the standard.

Carver Elementary School—Prior to Writing to Win training in 1998, 8% of 5th graders at Carver Elementary met the standard of the state test. By 2000, 23% of 5th graders met the standard, and in 2002 over 69% of 5th graders met the standard. By contrast, 44% of 5th graders statewide met or surpassed the 5th grade standard.

The 2002 Writing to Win Exemplary School of Writing awards will be announced by Dr. Warren Combs, President of Writing to Win Management System at the 2002 GACIS Annual Fall Conference held in Athens, GA at the Center for Continuing Education. Later, he will present the award to representatives from each school at a ceremony in their respective communities.

"It was tough to pick only two schools out of the many considered," said Dr. Combs, and he announced that in 2003, all schools that meet Writing to Win standards will receive recognition. "Schools can receive the recognition and plaque year after year, as long as they maintain the standards."