News
District to apply for School Improvement Grants for two schools
Superintendent Maria L. Goodloe-Johnson announced today that the district intends to apply for state improvement grants for two newly-eligible schools, AS#1 (a K-8) and Rainier Beach High School. The grants could provide funds ranging from $50,000 to $2 million per year over a three-year period beginning in fall 2011.
Today the Washington state Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction identified 50 (statewide number) low-performing schools eligible to receive School Improvement Grants (SIG). Once eligible, districts must decide to apply for funding for the school(s) and propose a plan that sets out a clear path to academic success.
“Both AS#1 and Rainier Beach High School (RBHS) are good candidates for a School Improvement Grant,” said Superintendent Maria L. Goodloe-Johnson, Ph.D. “Both schools have been working to create programs that not only result in high achieving schools, but also attract increased enrollment. For example, Rainier Beach staff and families have been exploring the possibility of implementing the highly regarded International Baccalaureate program. The additional funding would help these schools to make changes that require funding that we don’t have right now.”
By Friday SPS will submit its letter of intent to apply for the grant for AS#1 and RBHS. The detailed grant applications are due by March 4, and successful awardees will be notified by OSPI on March 31. Information about the amount funded will be available by April 22.
One other school - Chief Sealth International High School – is also on the state list of eligible schools based on low graduation rates. Seattle Public Schools is not pursing a grant application for Chief Sealth, because the school is well into implementation of a plan to ensure a high-achieving school. “Chief Sealth leadership, staff and families are working very well together, and in cooperation with Denny International Middle School, to create an outstanding 6-12 pathway based on the International Baccalaureate and international education,” said Goodloe-Johnson. “While additional funding would be helpful, we do not want to disrupt the momentum that has been created.”
Districts wishing to participate in the grant program must choose one of four federally designated intervention models, and Seattle Public Schools decided in 2010, in partnership with the Seattle Education Association, to use the “Transformation” model. This model addresses the following four areas: teacher and principal effectiveness; instructional approach and reform strategies; learning time (additional instructional time for students) and community-oriented schools; and operational flexibility and sustained support.
School Improvement Grants provide the opportunity to build on the work SPS has already begun to increase student achievement, but they also require some major changes. The transformation model requires that a new principal must be appointed if the current principal has been in place for more than two years. Rainier Beach co-principals, Dr. Robert Gary and Ms. Lisa Escobar would transition to new positions and a new principal would be appointed for the 2011-2012 school year. At AS#1, Principal Roy Merca is in his second year of leadership at the school and so the intention is that his assignment will continue.
These requirements are aligned with the district’s current five-year strategic plan, Excellence for All, which outlines goals to ensure every student is graduating ready for college, career and life. In 2010, three Seattle Public Schools – Hawthorne Elementary, West Seattle Elementary and Cleveland High School– received $5.76 million over three years in SIG funding.
“Family, staff and community involvement is vital to the successful implementation of School Improvement Grants,” said Goodloe-Johnson. “As the district puts together the application, we will continue to work with parents, families, the community, stakeholders and SPS staff to talk more about what this grant would mean to Rainier Beach and AS#1,” Goodloe-Johnson said.