TJ Elementary Named Title 1 Distinguished School
By Falls Church City Public Schools Communications
March 16, 2010
Thomas Jefferson Elementary is among 101 schools being recognized by the Virginia Board of Education as a Title I Distinguished School. The honor is presented to schools that raise the academic achievement of economically disadvantaged students. The awards are based on student achievement on state assessments during 2008-2009 and the previous school year.
To earn the designation of “Title I Distinguished Schools” Thomas Jefferson maintained full state accreditation under the commonwealth’s Standards of Learning program for two consecutive years, met federal benchmarks in reading and mathematics and had average test scores in both subjects at the 60th percentile or higher.
“When provided effective and focused instruction, all children — regardless of economic status — can achieve academic success, and these results confirm that,” said Board of Education President Eleanor B. Saslaw.
Thomas Jefferson Elementary is Falls Church City’s only Title I school. The school will receive a certificate celebrating its status and achievement.
Title I of NCLB provides funding to school divisions and schools for programs to raise the achievement of students identified as being at risk. The federal education law requires schools and school divisions to meet annual objectives for increasing student achievement on statewide assessments in reading/language arts and mathematics.
By (see byline)
March 16, 2010
Those of us who had children pass through TJ and receive a wonderful elementary education many decades ago remain proud of the school’ s continuing excellence. It helped produce numerous graduates who became even distinguished in their chosen professions or businesses.
I’m confused. According to National Title I Distinguished School program information, one of the criteria listed is that selected schools must have a poverty rate of at least 35% for the selected year and:
• demonstrated high academic achievement for two or more consecutive years
• met or exceeded state standards for making adequate yearly progress (AYP) for two or more consecutive years
Is the poverty rate at TJ 35% or higher, is a different calculation applied (for small n schools), is this a state-level recognition (and thus might have different criteria), or am I not understanding some aspect of this correctly?
Thanks.
“The board also recognized 102 schools as “Title I Distinguished Schools” for maintaining full state accreditation under the commonwealth’s Standards of Learning program for two consecutive years, meeting federal benchmarks in reading and mathematics and having average test scores in both subjects at the 60th percentile or higher.”
http://www.doe.virginia.gov/news/news_releases/2010/mar10.pdf
Now I am truly baffled. If you look at the TJ Report Card from the DOE website https://p1pe.doe.virginia.gov/reportcard/report.do?division=109&schoolName=454
you will see that pass rates in English and Math declined considerably from 2007-2008 to the 2008-2009 school year. How does this somehow make us a Title I Distinguished School? Pass rates in the category of Economically Disadvantaged are considerably below the state and even the division percentages in 2008-2009. This is also true in the categories of Hispanic students and Students with Disabilities. The pass rates were much higher in 2006-2007 and 2007-2008.
This award is from the state- not the “National Title I Distinguished Schools” program. VA had its own criteria for this (I do not know whether VA uses this as part of feeding into the national award program). As noted in the press release, the requirements are:
“… maintaining full state accreditation under the commonwealth’s Standards of Learning program for two consecutive years, meeting federal benchmarks in reading and mathematics and having average test scores in both subjects at the 60th percentile or higher. ” (from http://www.doe.virginia.gov/news/news_releases/2010/mar10.shtml).
Whether or not someone thinks that is a valid criteria for an award, it is what VA uses for this one. There is certainly always room for improvement.
Hope that explains it better.
Ron
So, an already top-rated school maintains accreditation under SOL’s (that aren’t all that rigorous) and keeps at-risk students (whose scores are actually declining) above the 60th percentile, and is considered a “Distinguished School?”
Another celebration of mediocrity.
If Title I provides additional funding to the school or school system, for whatever purpose, this is thumbs up.
Several of the schools with considerably higher percentages of at-risk students significantly improved student achievement while our students seem headed in the opposite direction, and your response is, “Who cares! Just give us the money!”
Sorry, this is thumbs down.