Washington SIG Schools Outpacing Nation in Improvement Money for School Improvement Grants helping more students succeed
Published on Fri, Dec 7, 2012Read More County & State
OLYMPIA — Washington schools that have been part of a grant intended to improve student achievement are showing impressive gains, according to data released today by the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction.
The schools each received federal School Improvement Grants, giving them between $50,000 and $2 million each year for three years. A total of 17 schools were awarded grants in 2009-10 and 10 schools in 2010-11. The program was not renewed in 2011-12.
Schools were required to use the grants to implement one of four federal intervention models: closure, restart, transformation, or turnaround.
OSPI’s analysis looked at the percentage of students in all 27 SIG schools who met standard in math and reading on state tests after the first year of the grant. In math, 86 percent of Washington’s SIG schools posted either single- or double-digit percentage point gains in achievement in math, compared to 65 percent of SIG schools nationally. In reading, 70 percent of Washington’s SIG schools showed similar gains, compared to 64 percent of SIG schools nationally.
“We’re happy but not satisfied,” said Randy Dorn, superintendent of public instruction. “It’s great that we’re outperforming the nation. But as long as there’s one student in one school not performing well, our work isn’t done.”
The schools each received federal School Improvement Grants, giving them between $50,000 and $2 million each year for three years. A total of 17 schools were awarded grants in 2009-10 and 10 schools in 2010-11. The program was not renewed in 2011-12.
Schools were required to use the grants to implement one of four federal intervention models: closure, restart, transformation, or turnaround.
OSPI’s analysis looked at the percentage of students in all 27 SIG schools who met standard in math and reading on state tests after the first year of the grant. In math, 86 percent of Washington’s SIG schools posted either single- or double-digit percentage point gains in achievement in math, compared to 65 percent of SIG schools nationally. In reading, 70 percent of Washington’s SIG schools showed similar gains, compared to 64 percent of SIG schools nationally.
“We’re happy but not satisfied,” said Randy Dorn, superintendent of public instruction. “It’s great that we’re outperforming the nation. But as long as there’s one student in one school not performing well, our work isn’t done.”
