Press Releases

March 2007
59 Outstanding Middle Schools Selected as 2007 Schools to Watch!
Champaign-Urbana, IL – Fifty-nine exemplary middle-grades schools across the country have been named "Schools to Watch" as part of a recognition program developed by the National Forum to Accelerate Middle-Grades Reform. Having established partnerships with education leaders in these states, the Forum announced the names of schools in each state that meet its strict criteria.

Each school was selected by state leaders for its academic excellence, its responsiveness to the needs and interests of young adolescents, and its commitment to helping all students achieve at high levels. In addition, each school has strong leadership, teachers who work together to improve curriculum and instruction, and a commitment to assessment and accountability to bring about continuous improvement. Please click here to view the press release and list of winners.

January 2007
New Jersey & Oregon Selected for 2007 Middle Grades Reform Program. Pinehurst, NC – In its continuing effort to replicate the programs and practices of outstanding middle grades schools, the National Forum to Accelerate Middle Grades Reform has selected two additional states to implement its acclaimed "Schools to Watch" program.

The states of New Jersey and Oregon were chosen after a competitive selection process in which teams from each state demonstrated the capacity, commitment, and vision to partner with the Forum to establish the program. Each state will now work with the Forum to select "Schools to Watch" at the middle level.

September 2006
Forum Receives Department of Education Grant. The Forum - working alongside four Comprehensive School Reform models - will be utilizing the $3 million, 3 year U.S. Department of Education grant to develop a Mathematics Improvement Toolkit focusing on the needs of students with disabilities, limited English proficient students and students in rural areas. Read the news release.

August 2006
Successful Middle School Educators Gather to Discuss Reform, AYP and Share Best Practices in Washington, DC. Washington, DC (June 22, 2006) — Defying headlines of struggling middle schools and the perils of adolescence, educators from high performing middle schools from across the country are gathering today in Washington D.C. to kick off the National Forum to Accelerate Middle Grades Reform (National Forum) annual “Schools to Watch” Conference. Read the news release.

Atlanta Educator Takes Needs Of Georgia Middle Schools To Nation’S Capitol. Washington, DC (June 23, 2006) — “Schools to Watch” in Georgia are dynamic, have a rigorous curriculum, high expectations and defy headlines of struggling middle schools and the perils of adolescence. Linda Hopping, co-chair of the Georgia Lighthouse Schools to Watch, delivered that message and more to a full room of congressional staff and interested stakeholders during a forum on ways to reform the nation’s middle schools hosted by the American Youth Policy Forum on June 23rd on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC Read the news release.

High Performing Middle Schools Gather to Discuss Reform, AYP and Best Practices. Defying headlines of struggling middle schools and the perils of adolescence, educators from high performing middle schools from across the country will gather in Washington D.C. June 22 – 24 for the National Forum to Accelerate Middle Grades Reform (National Forum) annual “Schools to Watch” Conference. Read the news release.

Long Beach Educator Takes Needs Of California Middle Schools To Nation’s Capitol. Washington, D.C. (June 23, 2006) — “Schools to Watch” in California are dynamic, have a rigorous curriculum, high expectations and defy headlines of struggling middle schools and the perils of adolescence. Irv Howard, program director of the California Schools to Watch, delivered that message and more to a full room of congressional staff and interested stakeholders during a forum on ways to reform the nation’s middle schools hosted by the American Youth Policy Forum on June 23rd on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. Read the news release.

January 2005
Arkansas, Michigan selected for 2005 Middle-Grades Reform Program. Pinehurst, NC -- In its continuing effort to replicate the programs and practices of outstanding middle grades, the National Forum to Accelerate Middle-Grades Reform has selected two additional states to implement its acclaimed “Schools to Watch” program. Read the news release.

December 2004
National Forum Calls on Policy Makers to Focus on Providing More Supports to Middle Grades Given Modest Performance on Global Math Tests; International Results Show U.S. Middle-Grades Students Need Improvement in Math. PINEHURST, N.C., Dec. 22 -- The National Forum to Accelerate Middle-Grades Reform calls on policy makers to focus on the middle grades in an effort to boost math performance. Read the news release.

October 2004
New Project Seeks to Improve Outreach to Parents of Hispanic Middle-Grades Students. The National Forum to Accelerate Middle-Grades Reform and the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) are teaming up to address the fact that many Hispanic parents lack the information needed to prepare their children for postsecondary education. Through a major grant from Lumina Foundation for Education, the project will develop online and print resources to assist community-based organizations and middle-grades schools in their efforts to reach the families of Hispanic middle-grades students. Read the news release.

June 2004
National Forum Calls for Small Learning Communities. The forum releases its fourth policy statement in a series, calling for the creation of small scools and small learning communities for the middle grades. Read the news release.

May 2004
New York, Ohio Selected for 2004 Middle Grades Reform Program. Both New York and Ohio have been selected to implement the National Forum's acclaimed “Schools to Watch” program. Each state will select high-performing "Schools to Watch" within their states. Read the full press release in PDF.

May 2004
National Forum Calls for Greater Funding for Middle Grades. Several National Forum members visited Washington, D.C. and held a Senate briefing on April 23rd. The Forum called on lawmakers to "recognize and identify middle grades 5-8 within legislation and research, and provide additional resources" for this most overlooked area of education. For more details, please read the full news release in PDF.

March 2004
New Study Calls for Implementing Middle-Grade Reforms Advocated by the National Forum. A report by the RAND Corporation identifies the National Forum to Accelerate Middle-Grades Reform as an excellent example of a collaborative organization able to move middle-grades reform forward. While the National Forum concurred with a number of the report's findings, it took issue with some of its key conclusions, including those involving separate, stand-alone schools to house the middle grades. Read the news release.

February 2004
Bush Proposals Address National Forum's Call for Greater Focus on Middle Grades. The National Forum to Accelerate Middle-Grades Reform applauds President Bush’s proposal to assist struggling middle-grades learners by proposing reading, math and mentoring initiatives within the budget for FY 2005. Read the news release with the Forum's comments on the Bush plan.

September 2003
Forum Announces New Leadership Training Curriculum. The National Forum has developed a new resource for middle-grades educators, administrators, parents, and others. Read the news release about this unique and exciting new tool.

June 2003
Major Report Highlights Success of Middle-Grades Funding. A new report has high praise for the Forum's work and accomplishments in the field. Read the news release about this report released by Grantmakers in Education.

May 2003
Four additional states have been selected for the 2003 state Schools to Watch program. In its continuing effort to replicate the programs and practices of outstanding middle schools, the National Forum selected Colorado, Illinois, Kentucky, and Virginia to participate in the Schools to Watch program. Read a news release in PDF format about the state selections.

March 2003
John Harrison, executive director of the North Carolina Middle School Association, has been selected to lead the Southern Forum to Accelerate Middle-Grades Reform. Read Harrison's plans for this 10-state reform effort in the news release announcing his selection.

February 2003
Ten exemplary middle-grades schools have been found to meet the Forum's strict criteria for excellence. Each has earned the designation "School to Watch." Read the Forum's news release which names the schools in California, Georgia, and North Carolina.

July 2002
The National Forum has released its policy statement on high-stakes testing. The statement supports the use of multiple measures, rather than a single test, to make decisions about a student's progress. Read the press release in PDF.

July 2002
The National Forum has named Deborah Kasak as its new executive director. Read the press release in PDF.

May 2002
The National Forum has selected three states to expand the reach and impact of its acclaimed “Schools to Watch” recognition program. The Forum will train teams of state leaders to implement Schools to Watch in California, Georgia, and North Carolina. Read the full release in PDF.

April 2002
The National Forum calls for mandatory specialized preparation and licensure of middle-level teachers in a new policy statement issued this month. Read the full release in PDF.