FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: December 7, 1999
Number: nr 99-10
Contact: Nan Powers Varoga, 713-658-1881, ext. 114
nvaroga@houstonaplus.org
TEAM SELECTED TO EVALUATE HOUSTON ANENNBERG CHALLENGE
HOUSTON - The Houston A+ Challenge has hired a team of 15 researchers from three universities to evaluate its work to reform public schools in the Greater Houston area.
The team, the first of its kind, will be led by Professor Pedro Reyes, Ph.D., of the University of Texas. Researchers from University of Houston and Rice University also will participate. The schools’ collaboration is the first time that three universities in the Houston area have worked together to evaluate one project.
"The purpose of the study is to determine to what extent the Houston A+ Challenge has improved public education," said Dr. Reyes. "Did student achievement go up? What are schools doing because of the Annenberg initiative? Did the non-profit’s funding make a difference?"
The study also will look at how the Houston A+ effort fits into the national public education reform effort underwritten by former U.S. Ambassador to England Walter Annenberg of Philadelphia. Houston is one of 18 sites to receive funds from Ambassador Annenberg. The evaluation team will issue a series of interim reports; the final report is scheduled for release in June 2002.
The Houston A+ Challenge began in 1997 when Ambassador Annenberg awarded Houston a $20 million one-for-two matching grant to reform public schools. The Brown Foundation and Houston Endowment, Inc., then pledged $10 million apiece. The Challenge has begun a capital campaign to raise the final $20 million for a total grant amount of $60 million.
The Houston A+ Challenge directs the largest single sum of private money ever dedicated to public school reform in the Greater Houston area. The Challenge funds school programs and leadership institutes to promote higher academic achievement by all students.
To date, the Challenge has awarded $9.275 million to 88 schools in six school districts – Alief, Aldine, Houston, Humble, North Forest and Spring Branch. The Challenge also has hosted three summer institutes, two distinguished speaker series, and a host of other professional development opportunities for superintendents, principals and teachers in its districts.
Schools must use grants from the Challenge for one or more of the following purposes:
Evaluation team researchers are:
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