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CFHS receives $10,000 grant

Colonial Forge High School received $10,000 from AARP

BY JEFF BRANSCOME

Date published: 2/5/2008

BY JEFF BRANSCOME

Colonial Forge High School has received $10,000 from AARP in honor of a program the school implemented in 2005 to improve standardized test scores.

AARP presented the Ethel Percy Andrus Legacy Award last week to Stafford County Superintendent David Sawyer and Colonial Forge Principal Lisa Martin. Andrus, who was the first woman high school principal in California, founded AARP 50 years ago.

Colonial Forge competed against 29 other schools in Virginia for the prize, which is given to one school in every state. AARP looked for "a program that has enhanced student achievement or contributed to an improved environment for the students," according to a press release.

Colonial Forge's program uses technology that immediately records students' answers on practice tests. The quizzes are made up of newly released Standards of Learning questions.

"Teachers are able to immediately give input back to the students and help them to be more successful down the road," Martin said.

Since the school started the program, passing rates have increased an average of five percentage points on SOLs in English, math, world history, U.S. and Virginia history and science.

The school plans to use AARP's award to buy more testing technology, which is available to teachers on a limited basis.

Jeff Branscome: 540/374-5402
Email: jbranscome@freelancestar.com

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Date published: 2/5/2008