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18 state schools to share in federal improvement grants

Eighteen schools in Washington state will receive large federal grants, part of a $3.5 billion effort to overhaul the nation's lowest-performing schools.

By Linda Shaw

Seattle Times education reporter

Information online

For a full list of 18 schools that received one of the federal grants, see "What's New" at

www.k12.wa.us

Eighteen schools in Washington state will receive large federal grants, part of a $3.5 billion effort to overhaul the nation's lowest-performing schools.

Forty-one Washington schools applied for the three-year awards, but there wasn't enough money for all of them. Together, the 41 schools asked for $49 million for the 2010-11 school year. Washington state will receive only $50 million total for three years.

To win one of the federal grants, school districts had to agree to make one of four major changes at each school: close it; replace its principal and at least half its staff; turn it into a charter school; or "transform" it. The latter has a number of requirements such as tougher teacher evaluations.

All the winning Washington schools will use the "transform" option, except three of Tacoma's middle schools. One of those is closing, and two others will replace its principal and at least half its staff.

For the first year of the grant, Seattle Public Schools will receive $2.1 million for three schools: Cleveland High, Hawthorne Elementary and West Seattle Elementary. The Highline School District will receive $1.8 million for Cascade and Chinook middle schools. Marysville School District will receive $2.1 million for Totem

University of Washington President Mark Emmert, right, greets Peter McPherson, president of the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities, at the Seattle conference of Western college leaders on Monday. The UW gathering was one of five being held around the U.S. this month.

KEN LAMBERT / THE SEATTLE TIMES

University of Washington President Mark Emmert, right, greets Peter McPherson, president of the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities, at the Seattle conference of Western college leaders on Monday. The UW gathering was one of five being held around the U.S. this month. Read story

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