National Title I Distinguished Schools Recognition Program 2015-2016

1. National Title I Distinguished Schools Recognition Program 2015-2016 Gabie Frazier Dr. Lynn Sodat Office of Program Administration and Accountability Virginia Department of Education

2. Overview • Purpose of Program • Categories of Nomination • Selection Criteria • Application Process • Intent to Apply Form • Application Guidelines • Participation Form • Submission Timeline • Recipient Notification

3. Purpose of the Program Background information from the National Association of State Title I Directors (NASTID): Each year NASTID publicly recognizes qualifying Title I schools from each state for their outstanding achievements in education. Because only two schools per state are selected each year as National Title I Distinguished Schools, this award is an especially prestigious honor.

4. Categories of Nomination • Category 1: A school that has exceeded Annual Measurable Objectives (AMOs) for the current and previous years (accountability years 2014-2015 and 2015-2016) or • Category 2: A school that has significantly closed the achievement gap for student subgroups as evident by performance towards AMOs in the current and the previous years (accountability years 2014-2015 and 2015-2016) Only one school per category can be selected.

5. Selection Criteria Eligible schools must not have received this award for the past two years, and must meet the criteria below: • Poverty rate of at least 35% for each of the two most current consecutive school years; • Demonstrated high academic achievement for two or more of the most current consecutive school years; • Met or exceeded federal AMOs for two or more of the most current consecutive school years; • Obtained full state accreditation for the same two or more consecutive school years; and • Achieved a mean score at the 60th percentile for both reading and mathematics.

6. Application Process Superintendent’s Memo #255-15, released October 2, 2015, provides instructions for developing the application. • Submit Intent to Apply Form (Attachment A) • Develop and submit Application (Attachment B) • Submit School Participation Form (Attachment C) with application. NOTE: Attachment C must be signed by the division superintendent or designee.

7. Application Requirements • Maximum of 10 pages • Maintain a one-inch margin • Specify each application area • Use double spacing • Indicate name of school division and the category on the the e-mail subject line

8. Submission Timeline • Letter of Intent – Due Monday, October 26, 2015 • Submit electronically to NationalTitleIDistinguishedSchools@doe.virginia.gov • NO faxes will be accepted • Completed Application and School Participation Form – Due Friday, November 13, 2015 at 3:00 p.m. • Submit electronically to NationalTitleIDistinguishedSchools@doe.virginia.gov • NO faxes will be accepted

9. Recipient Notification • Late November – VDOE application review and recipient selection • Early December – Recipients announced • Letter to division superintendent • VDOE Press Release • Recipients will be contacted by NASTID to submit information for national recognition and to participate in the National Title I Conference, Frontiers of Opportunity, January 28-31, 2016, in Houston, Texas.

10. Direct Questions to: Ms. Gabie Frazier 804-225-2907; Gabie.Frazier@doe.virginia.gov OR Dr. Lynn Sodat 804-371-2934; Lynn.Sodat@doe.virginia.gov