Washington, D.C. — Last week, the National Forum to Accelerate Middle-Grades Reform presented U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) with their Legislator of the Year Award for his advocacy on behalf of students in the middle grades. Whitehouse received the award from Peter Murphy, Executive Director of the California League of Middle Schools and past president of the National Forum to Accelerate Middle Grades Reform, during the organization’s annual meeting.
“Middle school is a critical time in a young person’s life during which students can develop a passion for learning, or slip through the cracks. That’s why I was proud to introduce the Success in the Middle Act earlier this year to help disadvantaged middle grade students reach their full potential,” said Whitehouse, a member of the Heallth, Education, Labor, and Pension (HELP) Committee. “I am honored to be called a ‘Legislator of the Year’ and will continue to stand up for children in Rhode Island and across the country.”
“The National Forum deeply appreciates the leadership of Senator Whitehouse on behalf of this country’s young adolescents. He knows how critical it is to provide middle grades students with the support they need to be successful,” said Deborah Kasak, Executive Director, National Forum to Accelerate Middle-Grades Reform. “We applaud his efforts with Success in the Middle. There could not be a finer champion!”
Whitehouse has been fighting to bring awareness and attention to middle grade issues since he served as Rhode Island’s Attorney General, where he helped to promote school safety, leadership, mentoring, and after school activities. Whitehouse’s Success in the Middle Act would provide struggling middle schools with the resources needed to succeed.
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