Paseo del Rey Natural Science Magnet in Playa del Rey has been selected as a receipient of the 2009-10 Title 1 Academic Achievement Award by State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Jack O’Connell, of the California Department of Education.  The Title 1 Academic Achievement Award is given only to schools receiving federal Title 1 funds as authorized by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. 

In the state of California, 6,000 schools out of the 9,000 K-12 schools participate in this program.  These funds assist schools in meeting the educational needs of students who have special needs or are living in near or at poverty level.  The criteria to qualify for this award has become more rigorous in recent years.  The school’s soicioeconomically disadvantaged students must double the achievement targets set for them for two consistent years and all students must demonstrate significant progress toward proficiency on California’s academic content standards. 

Mr. O’Connell called Mrs. Jennifer Theodore-Sullivan, the principal of Paseo del Rey to convey the good news and express congratulations and gratitude for the hard work put in by students, teachers, administrators, staff, and parents. In addition to the Academic Achievement Award, Paseo del Rey has consistently improved their API score which was 849 for 2008-2009.

The 2009-10 awardees will be honored at a reception and banquet at the Disneyland Hotel on April 21, 2010.  For more information about the Title 1 Academic Achievement Awards, please visit www.cde.ca.gov/ta/sr/aa/index.asp.