CHAFFEE REMEDIAL READING PROGRAM HONORED

CHAFFEE - The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has picked the Chaffee Elementary School's remedial reading program as a state winner in a national award program.

As a result the Chaffee program is in the running as a potential national winner.

The local program was one of eight honored throughout Missouri in the U.S. Department of Education's Secretary's Initiative Award program, according to the local program's coordinator and teacher, Nancy McGrew. The programs were chosen from among 11 nominated for the award by the state education department, said McGrew, who wrote the Chaffee program.

The school districts in which the programs were established were asked to submit detailed proposals describing their programs and their schools and communities, she said. A panel representing four former award recipients viewed and rated the proposals as programs with proven effectiveness.

McGrew said the proposals are published in a booklet to be used as a guide by schools across Missouri. The local program's strength and success, she said, comes from the composition of its staff and the strong support it gets from classroom teachers, parents and the community.

A commendation of merit will be awarded for the program at the International Reading Association's national convention in Las Vegas, Nev. in May.