By Maria L. Lopez

Four Sacramento City Unified School District campuses are among 238 California schools announced today as recipients of the 2009-10 Title 1 Academic Achievement Award. The SCUSD sites are David Lubin, Earl Warren, Isador Cohen and Theodore Judah elementary schools. Aspire Capitol Heights Academy and St. HOPE Public School 7, both independent charter schools located in the district, are also among the award winners.

“This recognition is a testament to the great work of students, teachers and parents occurring at these schools,” SCUSD Superintendent Jonathan P. Raymond said. “The recognition is especially appreciated because progress towards closing the achievement gap is one of the measures used to single out these campuses,” Raymond stated.

The Title 1 Academic Achievement Award is given only to schools receiving federal Title 1 funds, federal funding that assists schools in meeting the educational needs of students living near or at the poverty level. More than 6,000 of California’s 9,000 campuses participate in the Title I program.

Schools must demonstrate that all students are making significant progress toward proficiency on California’s academic content standards and the schools’ low-income students must have doubled the achievement targets set for them over two consecutive years.

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell called principals of each of the schools to convey the good news and express congratulations and appreciation for the successful student and staff efforts. “These award recipients prove that with hard work and high expectation, students can overcome challenges and achieve academic success,” O’Connell said.

The 2009-10 awardees will be honored at a reception and banquet at the Disneyland Hotel on April 21, 2010.

Go to the Sacramento City Unified School District Web site.