5 Valley schools named ‘Reward Schools’ by state

JUNEAU — Five Mat-Su Borough School District sites are among 49 public schools recognized as 2013 Reward Schools by the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development.

Under a waiver from the federal No Child Left Behind Act, Alaska replaced its former federal accountability system of Adequate Yearly Progress with a state system that not only identifies schools most in need of support, but also recognizes schools that are improving students’ learning.

Reward Schools, part of that new school accountability system, are recognized in highest performing and high progress categories.

This year, 31 Alaska schools are listed as “highest performing” and 37 are “high progress.” Nineteen schools were recognized in both categories, making a total of 49 Reward Schools.

Valley schools named highest performing Alaska Rewards Schools are Academy Charter School; Alaska Middle College School and Mat-Su Career and Technical High School. Public schools named to the high progress list for Rewards Schools are Academy Charter School, John Shaw Elementary and Talkeetna Elementary.

Academy Charter was the only Valley school named to both lists.

For more information, contact Eric Fry at (907) 465-2851 or eric.fry@alaska.gov.