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May
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The National Writing Project (NWP) is a grant program of the Office of Innovation and Improvement (OII) of the U.S. Department of Education. OII makes strategic investments in innovative educational practices and coordinates those provisions of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) that address public school choice and supplemental educational services. The NWP is well suited to helping schools and districts implement NCLB, particularly in ensuring teacher quality.
Where is the NWP located?
NWP sites are located on the campuses of 195 universities in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. These university sites partner with local schools to improve the teaching of writing in order to improve student writing and learning.
What does the NWP offer to teachers?
Sites of the National Writing Project provide high quality professional development for teachers through a “teachers teaching teachers model.” Programs include summer institutes, school-year inservice programs, and programs that develop teacher leadership, thereby encouraging teachers to remain in the profession and to continually hone their skills.
What do teachers say about the National Writing Project?
Ninety-eight percent of teachers surveyed by Inverness Research Associates in 2003 said that NWP professional development is better than other types of professional development they have experienced. Ninety-eight percent said that what they learn via the writing project translates into improved writing skills for their students.
How do students benefit?
A three-year Academy for Educational Development (AED) study of the NWP found that third and fourth grade students taught by writing project teachers showed significant improvement in writing achievement over the course of the school year. In response to timed writing assessments given in fall 2001 and spring 2002, for example, 82 percent of third-graders and 85 percent of fourth-graders reached adequate or strong achievement for effectiveness in persuasive writing by their second assessment.
Is the National Writing Project a good federal investment?
The National Writing Project is a cost-efficient model that leverages local investment. In 2004-2005, NWP sites raised $22.3 million in local funds.
The National Writing Project is authorized to receive federal funding through fiscal year 2007 under Title II, Part C, Subpart II of the No Child Left Behind Act.