SEARCH Program Reaches Hundreds in Huntington
The Huntington SEARCH program is becoming an increasingly important part of the educational experience of hundreds of elementary grade level students. The district expanded the program this year after School Board members added an additional teacher in order to reach more youngsters, and created a chairperson’s position to provide increased supervision and leadership.
In any given week, 655 elementary school students receive instruction from 2.8 SEARCH (Scholastic Enrichment and Resource for Children in Huntington) teachers and Maryann Daly, the program’s chairperson, who also teaches 11 classes a week.
SEARCH has many facets. The SPARK program offers enrichment classes for second graders across the district, including three workshops for every student with the final one being a performance.
The QUEST program provides enrichment classes for third graders in all four primary schools. The program includes Starlab sessions, which involve one hour lessons in the spring in a portable planetarium.
The fourth grade STEPS program is another enrichment experience for students not receiving math services. The fourth grade SEARCH pullout program takes in students scoring in the top 10 percent on standardized tests. Following a reassessment, the top 15 percent of fifth graders are included in the program and after another reassessment the top 18 percent of sixth graders are included. One hour Starlab classes are provided in the fall for all fifth graders in the district.
The Math Olympiad program is also popular. Fifth graders scoring in the top 10 percent on the state math test qualify. Additional sixth grade students are added to the program if they “score” into the program after the initial qualification is made a year earlier.
For more than a quarter of a century, SEARCH has serviced the educational needs of Huntington’s students. With the recent program enhancements, that tradition is expected is expected to continue far into the future.
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