Thirteen were named as Hall of Fame Mentor Schools, a status reserved for schools who have won the award for more than three consecutive years. The 13 Mentor Schools will retain that status for three years, until the 2000-2001 school year. Twenty-two other schools across the state currently hold Mentor School status from prior years. State Superintendent of Education Inez Tenenbaum said the schools being recognized will serve as resources for other schools across the state. Our 'Exemplary Writing Schools' have developed excellent instructional programs for their students.
Writing is taught across the entire curriculum, and it's an integral part of everything students do.
Schools attempting to win the honor were judged on 20 different instructional criteria. The program is coordinated by the State Department of Education and the state Writing Improvement Coordinating Council with assistance from the Writing Improvement Network. The network is a state-funded organization based at the University of South Carolina that works with local school districts to improve reading and writing skills.