SACRAMENTO — State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell announced today the names of four middle schools designated as the 2005 California's Schools To Watch — Taking Center Stage. These schools represent examples of high-performing middle schools that are academically excellent, developmentally responsive to the needs of young adolescents, socially equitable, and organized in a way to sustain dynamic improvement and reform.

"I am very proud of these outstanding middle schools and congratulate them for their success in academically motivating their students and preparing them for the rigorous, yet essential, high school curriculum that lies ahead," O'Connell said.

The four schools were selected as models by the California's Middle Grade Alliance from many outstanding applicants. They exemplify the criteria for a high-performing middle school developed by the National Forum to Accelerate Middle Grades Reform, and reflect the principles of Taking Center Stage: A Commitment to Standards-Based Education for California's Middle Grade Students. They join seven schools previously selected in 2003 and 2004. Each one of California's designated model middle schools is as different as the community and student population that it serves.

"Educating today's culturally diverse middle school students in the context of California's rigorous standards can be extremely challenging," O'Connell said. "These four schools meet this challenge very well and are eager to share their signature practices with other middle schools."

This year's designees are:

• Bernice Ayer Middle School, Capistrano Unified School District, Orange County, San Clemente, Principal Cheryl Baughn;
• John F. Kennedy Middle School, El Centro Elementary School District, Imperial County, El Centro, Principal Suzanne H. Smith;
• Millikan Middle School, Los Angeles Unified School District, Los Angeles County, Sherman Oaks, Principal Norman Isaacs; and
• Rancho Milpitas Middle School, Milpitas Unified School District, Santa Clara County, Milpitas, Principal Michael Madalinski.

Formal recognition will be given to the model schools at the annual California League of Middle Schools Conference in San Diego, March 18-20. There the four schools will be given their first opportunity to showcase themselves and network with other middle schools from around the state.

California's Schools To Watch — Taking Center Stage program is a major activity of the California Middle Grades Alliance. The alliance is composed of eight organizational partners: the California League of Middle Schools, the Association of California School Administrators, the California School Boards Association, the California Middle Grades Partnership Networks, the Curriculum and Instruction Steering Committee of the California County Superintendents Educational Association, the California Teachers Association, California Association of Supervision and Curriculum Development, and the California Department of Education. The California League of Middle Schools serves as the lead organization for the program.

Schools submitted an application and self-assessment last fall, and were visited by a review team. Implementation of the recommendations and guidance given in California's middle grades handbook, Taking Center Stage, were considered as some of the primary factors during the application process.

Designated schools will serve as models for other schools to visit, learn from, and emulate. A virtual tour of the seven previously designated middle schools is available at: California League of Middle Schools [http://www.clms.net] (Outside Source). The virtual tour will be expanded in coming months to include the four 2005 designees.

California is one of eleven states working with the National Forum to Accelerate Middle Grades Reform to select model middle schools. In June 2005, the National Forum will be conducting its first National Schools To Watch Conference in Washington, D.C. where all designated middle schools and all those schools who want to learn from them will be gathering. Additional information about the National Forum and the National Schools To Watch Conference may be obtained at: The National Forum - To Accelerate Middle-Grades Reform [http://www.mgforum.org/] (Outside Source).