King County and America's Foundation for Chess launch pilot project in unincorporated King County

Sept. 26, 2005

Jointly released by King County and America's Foundation for Chess

King County and America's Foundation for Chess launch pilot project in unincorporated King County

Southern Heights & White Center Heights elementary schools incorporate First Move™ curriculum

Chess is a learning tool that is used to increase higher-level thinking skills, raise math and reading scores and build self-esteem in our students. King County Executive Ron Sims and Michael Flor, Executive Director of the Western Washington Chapter of America's Foundation for Chess (AF4C) today announced the launch of the First Move™ program, an innovative curriculum that will be used in 2nd and 3rd grade classrooms at Southern Heights and White Center Heights elementary schools in the Highline Public Schools.

"When I heard about this unique program, I knew King County should be a part of providing this innovative and successful educational tool to the teachers and students in some of our most challenging classrooms," said Sims.

King County has provided the necessary funding to include AF4C's innovative First Move™ chess curriculum at Southern Heights and White Center Heights elementary schools in unincorporated King County. This project in the Highline Public Schools is the foundation's first public-private partnership.

"This is an exciting partnership that we have entered in with King County," said Flor. "Thanks to the leadership of King County Executive Sims, a public-private funding model is being developed that enables AF4C to introduce First Move™ to more schools. We plan to emulate this partnership in other areas of our state."

AF4C was founded in 2000 as a non-profit organization. It developed its scholastic program, First Move™, which uses chess as a learning tool in 2nd and 3rd grade classrooms. The First Move™ curriculum meets Washington State 2nd and 3rd grade level expectations.

Currently, First Move™ is in schools in Washington, Oregon, California, Pennsylvania, Florida and South Carolina. The goal is to see 2nd and 3rd graders across the country using chess as a learning tool in their classrooms. Schools pay for a portion of the program and AF4C works with local businesses and organizations to raise funds to cover the remaining program costs. This creates a unique relationship between the schools and the community bringing them closer together.

King County is providing $25,000 to fully fund the costs to incorporate the First Move™ chess curriculum in all 2nd and 3rd grade classrooms at Southern Heights and White Center Heights elementary schools.

"I'm delighted that King County could help the Highline School District bring this valuable program into local classrooms," said King County Councilmember Dow Constantine. "Our second- and third-graders can greatly enhance their thinking skills and mental discipline from learning and regularly playing chess."

At the school assembly of 2nd and 3rd grade classrooms with their teachers, principals Greta Salmi from White Center Heights and Sarah Gill from Southern Heights, and Superintendent John Welch; Mr. Flor presented a large chess piece to Executive Sims in recognition of the new partnership between King County and America's Foundation for Chess.

"Highline Public Schools has a number of great partnerships with King County," said Superintendent Welch. "This is one more opportunity for us to come together to support student learning."

"When talking to third graders about the upcoming chess program coming to WCH, their immediate reactions were ‘Cool, I think it is fun. I already know how to play chess some,'" said Greta Salmi, principal of White Center Heights Elementary School. "Here we have a chance to help children improve their thinking skills and have fun playing chess, all at the same time. The sneaky part is that they will improve in math and vocabulary skills without their even noticing. Hurrah for America's Foundation for Chess."