Bush promotes education agenda in Lee school visit [Jeb praises school w/ increased reading scores]

Gov. Jeb Bush giving a high-five to a Lee County student for making great gains in reading scores.

Bush promotes education agenda in Lee school visit [Jeb praises school w/increased reading scores]

Friday, January 25, 2002

By CHARLIE WHITEHEAD, ckwhitehead@naplesnews.com

Gov. Jeb Bush went back to school Thursday, specifically to Sheri St. John's third grade at Spring Creek Elementary [located in Bonita Springs, FL].

The governor was stumping for a new emphasis he wants to place on reading, and read with St. John's class before appearing live on the Bonita Springs school's in-house student-hosted news. Bush and state Education Commissioner Charlie Crist lauded the school for increasing its reading scores, high-fiving students leading their classes.

"This is a school shattering a lot of myths," Bush said.

The school is 50 percent Hispanic, Bush pointed out, and for many students English is a second language. He had praise for the teachers and Principal Sheryl Clarke.

"Yet they're leading the charge in achievement," he said. "It takes a passionate leader as a principal — and great teachers."

Bush also cited the need to link local growth management to school site selection and development. An effort to link county development review and growth management efforts to the availability of school classroom space died in last year's legislative session, but could be reborn this year.

The governor said there's no doubt more money for education is essential. He said it must come with accountability.

"I say more money is essential, particularly if we have high expectations," he said. "If we measure correctly more money will help."

More money could come in the form of more than $50 million from federal and state sources to enhance reading programs in elementary and middle schools. Crist's Department of Education is reviewing existing reading programs with an eye toward identifying the most effective ones.

Bush cited the fourth grade reading numbers at Spring Creek, where the percentage reading at or above grade level went from about 40 percent to almost 70 percent.

Press release from Gov. Bush's office, FYI:

Governor's Office > Media Center & Lib. > News Rel. Search

Governor Bush Visits to Highlights the Importance of Reading During Visit to Bonita Springs Elementary School

~~Governor reads with third-graders at Spring Creek Elementary~~

For Immediate Release
Thursday, January 24, 2002

Contact:
Elizabeth Hirst
(850) 488-5394

BONITA SPRINGS -- Governor Jeb Bush today visited with students, faculty and administrators at Spring Creek Elementary School in Bonita Springs as part of his push to improve reading proficiency among Florida’s students. During his State of the State address this week, Governor Bush asked legislators to commit to long-term fundamental reading initiatives that will achieve the goal of helping all children read at grade level by fourth grade.

“Almost half our fourth grade students can’t read at a fourth grade level, and all the research shows that if children aren’t reading at grade level by fourth grade, the chances to learn going forward are diminished,” said Governor Bush. “But once students are at grade level in the early years, we need to make sure reading is not ignored after that. Just as working out regularly keeps the body in shape, so does reading instruction past fourth grade help the mind and overall learning.”

During his visit, the Governor participated in a reading lesson with third-graders and discussed his reading initiative during a student-run news program interview. Governor Bush commended the school’s principal Dr. Sheryl Clarke and the emphasis on reading programs at Spring Creek. Between 2000 and 2001, the number of students who scored proficient or higher on their reading achievement scores at Spring Creek Elementary increased by over 50 percent.

“I know that last spring the principal issued a challenge to her students to read a combined 1,224,600 pages or minutes over a four month period, said Governor Bush. “I am especially pleased to hear that every classroom at Spring Creek Elementary exceeded this goal, which has resulted in greatly improved reading levels.”

As part of the Governor’s statewide reading initiative, the Department of Education is evaluating the effectiveness of current reading programs to identify the programs that are most effective at improving reading. Combined with federal funds made available through the Reading First initiative, the Governor is recommending that next year we spend more than $50 million in state and federal funds to enhance reading in kindergarten through 8th grade. This money will go toward professional development for teachers and innovative programs for students that are aimed at meeting our reading goals.

Earlier this month, the Governor also announced the Florida school districts receiving a total of $3 million in research-based reading grants. Of that, the Lee County school district is receiving $73,677 in grant funding. The grants will allow districts to begin implementing comprehensive and coordinated reading programs to help every student become a successful, independent reader. The research-based reading programs will provide daily instruction with five essential components: phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, comprehension and vocabulary development. As part of the reading initiative the Governor also pursued an unprecedented agreement with five major instructional materials publishers who have agreed to provide up to 100 hours of free training to Florida’s teachers on the building blocks of reading.

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