Press Release

Springdale, AR
July 10, 2001

Contact: Emerson Goodwin - 501.927.0970
Dr. Jim Rollins - 501.750.8800

Springdale, AR — The board of directors of CommunityCare Foundation, Inc. announced today a $791,755 special initiative aimed at increasing the success of students in northwest Arkansas. The educational initiative, All Children Excel in School, (ACES), is a partnership with the Springdale School District, Lee and Westwood Elementary Schools in Springdale, Ozark Guidance, and the University of Arkansas Office for Research, Measurement and Evaluation.

While the program is envisioned as a long-term commitment, Walter Turnbow, chair of the board of directors of CommunityCare Foundation, said that a total of $791,755 will be invested in the project during the first year. The two elementary schools will share $693,983 to assist in implementing strategies to have all children perform at grade level. In addition, Turnbow announced a grant of $53,172 to Ozark Guidance to support dedicated social work staff for each school. The University of Arkansas Office for Research, Measurement and Evaluation will receive a grant of $44,600 to design and implement the evaluation processes for ACES, according to Turnbow.

ACES is the result of working with the Springdale School District to learn about its issues and concerns. "All of the district's administrative leadership and its elementary school principals were involved in developing this process. CommunityCare Foundation believes that focusing on children's success in school can make a lasting impact on the quality of life of northwest Arkansas, and that is our mission." stated Turnbow.

A major component of the school's funding will be used to support reducing the student, teacher ratio. Other program components at Lee Elementary include: expanded health services; improving math-teaching skills by adding a master's math teacher; Summer Jump Start program for pre-kindergarten students; Children Understand Basic Skills program for kindergarten and first grade students and their parents; expanded professional development; first through third grade Point-In-Time Remediation; before and after school tutoring.

At Westwood Elementary ACES will include: daily, before school tutoring; before and after school enrichment opportunities; exploration of Art across the curriculum; language instruction in Spanish; expanded professional development; after school clubs; four, one-week summer learning workshop sessions; Pre-Kindergarten Readiness Program; and Family Learning Nights.

"All of our administrators and teachers want the best for the children of our district and it's heart warming to have this partnership with CommunityCare Foundation," said Dr. Jim Rollins, Superintendent, Springdale School District. "As our district grows and changes, we have to make sure that we are assisting students in learning what they need to successfully face the future," added Rollins.

ACES is a pilot program within Lee and Westwood elementary schools to learn what programs and processes remove barriers to student success. Lessons learned will be shared with the other elementary schools in the district.

CommunityCare Foundation, Inc. was founded in 1998 with funds from the sale of Northwest Medical Center in Springdale and Bates Medical Center in Bentonville. The Foundation operates as a supporting organization to the Northwest Arkansas Community Foundation and its mission is to enrich the quality of life in this area.

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