Nevitt Forest Community School of Innovation is one of seven South Carolina public schools announced today as winners of prestigious Exemplary Writing Program Awards.

The winners were announced by State Superintendent of Education Mick Zais after a comprehensive five-month evaluation that included site visits. The State Superintendent said the winning schools will serve as resources for other schools across the state.

“The ability to communicate effectively is fundamental to a child’s education,” said District Five Superintendent Betty Bagley. “We are proud of the students, parents, teachers and staff at Nevitt Forest for their hard work in achieving this honor.”

The other winning schools announced today are: Pate Elementary (Darlington County); Doby's Mill Elementary (Kershaw County); Heath Springs Elementary (Lancaster County); Irmo Elementary (Richland/Lexington District 5); Woodruff Primary (Spartanburg District 4); and Monarch Elementary (Union County).

The Exemplary Writing Program is sponsored by the South Carolina Department of Education and governed by the Writing Improvement Coordinating Council.  The award is based on an extensive evaluation of the schools’ instructional programs, with a particular emphasis on the teaching of writing.

Last fall 25 schools submitted written applications responding to 10 criteria of excellence that comprise the Exemplary Writing Program. The applications detailed how each school implements its writing program with reference to leadership, faculty knowledge of research and theory, curriculum, assessment and community partnership. From this group, 12 schools were chosen for site visits. Three separate reviewers scored applications, and site visits were conducted by at least two reviewers. The schools that met the rigorous criteria of the program were designated as Exemplary Writing Program Schools.

Caroline Savage, from the Education Department’s Unit of Literacy and Early Learning, said the Exemplary Writing Program provides tools for schools to self-assess their writing programs as well as a series of professional development sessions based on criteria for effective school writing programs. Savage said schools that have gone through the three- to five-year process of developing an exemplary program credit EWP as the key to their success.