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Six schools to receive $260,000 in grants from Houston A+ Challenge

The Houston A+ Challenge has granted $260,000 in Focused Impact Awards to six schools from Aldine and Spring Branch independent school districts for the 2005-2006 school year. The Focused Impact Award is offered by the Houston A+ Challenge to strengthen math, literacy and fine arts instruction.

The recipients are:

• Anderson Academy in Aldine, to increase literacy and math skills by integrating fine arts into the curriculum.
• Bethune Academy in Aldine, to increase student learning through fine arts integration across the curriculum.
• Hoffman Middle School in Aldine, to increase student achievement in math through fine arts integration.
• Reed Academy in Aldine, to increase student achievement in mathematics and increase student literacy through fine arts integration.
• Spring Branch Elementary in Spring Branch, to implement Thinking Maps, a professional development program and literacy strategy to increase student achievement.
• Stovall Academy in Aldine, to increase student literacy through professional development and parent involvement.

Nine applications were received for the Focused Impact Award. The four-year grants are received annually, contingent on progress. Last school year, 14 schools were recipients of the grant.

The applications are reviewed by a committee of community members and educators. The Focused Impact Award is made possible through the generosity of The Annenberg Foundation and The Brown Foundation.

“Houston A+ Challenge funds initiatives to create lasting improvements in classroom instruction and student achievement. Our goal is to help create models for all schools,” said Harry Reasoner, chairman of the Board of Trustees, Houston A+ Challenge and senior partner at Vinson&Elkins LLP.

For more information on Houston A+ Challenge initiatives, visit www.houstonaplus.org. Houston A+ is an independent, public-private education organization.