Date:  March 21, 2003
Contact: Irene Cromer
(703) 791-8720

The American School Board Journal selected Prince William County Public Schools’ “Mathematics Intervention Program” and the Curriculum Management Program as winners in the ninth annual Magna Awards. The 2003 Magna Awards recognize local school boards for taking bold and innovative steps to improve their educational programs.  Over 400 districts from across the country compete with programs that increase student achievement and encourage community involvement in schools.  The school division was one of 24 winners and only one of two districts across the nation to receive multiple awards.

The Mathematics Intervention Program is designed to reach at-risk students in kindergarten through second grade before they fall too far behind their peers.  Teachers participate in a yearlong development class where they learn how to identify student ability levels and the techniques required to help those struggling in math.  Currently, 23 teachers are fully trained, and another 50 are enrolled in the class.  By the end of this school year, 120 kindergarten to second grade teachers will be fully trained and there are plans to expand the program to grades 3-5.

  Linda Zborofsky, Elementary Mathematics Intervention Coordinator, will be recognized  at the American School Board Journal’s luncheon for School Leaders at the NBSA Annual Conference in San Francisco on Monday, April 7.

 The American School Board Journal awarded the Curriculum Management System an Honorable Mention.   Known as CMS, the electronic system aligns standards, instruction, and
assessment.  Teachers use the system to develop tests and receive immediate feedback on student achievement for each curriculum objective. A more extensive CMS testing program for grades two to 11 was started in the fall of 2002 to monitor student achievement in math, language arts, social studies, and science.   Holly Hess, Director of Planning and Assessment, submitted the nomination packet. 

The school division’s programs, along with the other winning programs, will be cited in a special supplement in the April 2003 issue of The American School Board Journal.   Sodexho School Services, a leading provider of food and facilities management, and the magazine sponsor the Magna Awards annually.