Hazel Park/Hilda Knoff Elementary in New Orleans Area Receives $50,000 TAP Founder’s Award
Take a look inside Hazel Park/Hilda Knoff Elementary
Prestigious honor created by education reform pioneer Lowell Milken recognizes schools for exceptional implementation of TAP
TAP Founder Lowell Milken tonight surprised Hazel Park/Hilda Knoff Elementary School, located in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, with the prestigious TAP Founder's Award for its exceptional implementation of the comprehensive school reform. Funded by the Lowell Milken Family Foundation, the national award comes with a $50,000 cash prize to help achieve TAP goals in subsequent school years.
Lowell presented the Award at the 9th Annual National TAP Conference, held at the Bonaventure Hotel in Los Angeles, California. Hundreds of TAP participants from across the country were in the audience, as well as other influential educators and leaders who are helping to shape the future of education.
"I am pleased to present Hazel Park/Hilda Knoff with the TAP Founder's Award for establishing 'teacher excellence, student achievement, and opportunities for all'," said TAP Founder Lowell Milken. "Hazel Park/Hilda Knoff has fully implemented the TAP elements with distinction and achieved notable value-added student achievement growth. The school also serves as an important resource of best practice and leadership to the region, state and nation."
Since adopting TAP in the 2003-04 school year, Hazel Park/Hilda Knoff—where roughly 75 percent of the diverse student body is eligible for free or reduced-price lunch—has strengthened the effectiveness of its faculty and demonstrated steady increases in student achievement.
Jay Greene, Endowed Chair/Head, Department of Education Reform, University of Arkansas
"I think some of the most promising education solutions include TAP, which attempts to redirect public expenditures by getting public schools to alter how they compensate teachers. It’s altering the incentive system of education by rewarding excellence among teachers, so that we are more likely to retain and attract high-quality people to teaching."
