Press Releases
June 29, 2005
Two New Technology High School Network Schools Recognized as Exceptional
Napa, CA – Two of New Technology Foundation’s (NTF) growing network of New Tech High Schools received excellent news this week. They became the newest members of the elite club of California Distinguished Schools. Susan Schilling, CEO of NTF said, “We couldn’t be more proud of the accomplishments of staff and students at these 2 high schools. Both schools dedicate themselves to serving the needs to the students in their communities and equipping them not just with all the content knowledge required for college acceptance but also the all important 21st Century skills colleges and employers are recognizing as most important to future success.”
Both Mare Island Technology Academy (MIT) High School – an independent charter school in Vallejo, and Tech High on the campus of Sonoma State University – a public high school in the Cotati-Rohnert Park school district -- have been recognized as California Distinguished Schools. These schools are two of 192 schools selected for recognition. MIT is one of only eight charter schools so designated for 2005.
The California Distinguished School Award honors some of the state's most exemplary and inspiring public schools. Schools selected for Distinguished School Awards are strong, well-rounded community schools. Criteria for qualification address all areas of a school’s educational program including its learning environment, family involvement and community participation.
MIT was one of 12 schools also recognized with an Exemplary Career Technical Education Program award. California State Assembly Member Noreen will be passing a resolution to commemorate MIT’s status as a distinguished school.
The Exemplary Career Technical Education Program Awards are a “special emphasis” honor given to schools that rise to the challenge of providing career technical education programs to their students based on local and regional needs. These recognized high schools are providing a firm foundation of such career programs and services in which all students can participate.
Fewer than 465 of California’s 2,300 middle and high schools were eligible to apply for the honor based on their Academic Performance Index (API) and Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) results. MIT’s High School’s API increased 60 points based on 2004 test scores. Technology High’s API increased 22 points based on 2004 test scores. Both schools received the highest state API ranking compared to similar schools. After applying, MIT and Tech High both underwent a rigorous selection process conducted by the California Department of Education (CDE) in partnership with the California County Superintendents Educational Services Association.
With funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, NTF supports communities across California and the nation who wish to partner around establishing a school similar in approach and philosophy to Napa’s acclaimed New Technology High School. The NTHS Network is currently comprised of 11 schools, growing to 24 over the next few years.
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New Technology Foundation, www.newtechfoundation.org, supports the creation
of new small high schools based on the Napa New Technology High School Model,
thereby offering a concrete model for how national education reform can be accomplished.
NTF is creating an NTHS Network across the country with schools in California,
Oregon, Alaska, Colorado, Illinois and Louisiana, with additional schools opening
in North Carolina, Texas and New York over the next two years.. For more information,
visit the website, or phone (707) 253-6951.
Contact:
Susan Lane, Director of Development | (707) 259-8524
Susan Schilling, CEO | (707) 253-4287
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