SACRAMENTO — State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell today accepted, on behalf of the California Department of Education (CDE), the prestigious 2004 Partnership State Award from the National Network of Partnership Schools (NNPS) at Johns Hopkins University, in Baltimore, MD.

CDE was honored for excellent leadership in developing family, school, and community partnership programs that are designed to help students succeed in school. California is the only state in the nation to be recognized this year by NNPS.

"I am deeply honored to accept this award on behalf of the California Department of Education," said O'Connell. "There's an old African saying that 'it takes a village to raise a child.' In our case, it takes carefully nurtured relationships that link together partners across the state. These partnerships help create a network of support that ensures our students receive a world-class education that will help them succeed in school and their careers."

CDE's membership with NNPS since 1998 aligns with and supports O'Connell's reform efforts to develop and nurture partnerships in the community that promote increased rigor in the state's elementary, middle, and high school curricula in order to improve student achievement. For more information about these reform efforts, please visit State of Education.

CDE submitted an application to NNPS with detailed descriptions and evidence of the development of its partnership programs at the state, regional, county, district, and school levels. The application successfully represented California's excellent and permanent program of school, family, and community partnerships.

In particular, NNPS cited CDE for convening the Family Area Network Board with representatives from California's federal Parental Information Resource Centers, California State PTA, Comprehensive Assistance Centers, regions, counties, and districts ranging from preschool through adult education. The informal statewide advisory group helps CDE focus its activities on helping families to support student achievement and success in all districts and schools.

"The California Department of Education is, indeed, a leader in strengthening and sustaining high quality programs of school, family, and community partnerships," said NNPS Director and Principal Research Scientist Dr. Joyce Epstein. "We were impressed with the quality of the CDE program's leadership, teamwork, action plans for partnerships, activities, and progress over time."

The award entitles CDE to free registration at an NNPS leadership conference, recognition in the education media, and a plaque. Researchers at Johns Hopkins University established NNPS in 1995 to develop school, family, and community partnerships to help students succeed. For more information, please visit National Network of Partnership Schools at Johns Hopkins University [http://www.partnershipschools.org] (Outside Source).

For more information on CDE educational partnerships, please visit Parent/Family/Community.