Shaw Elementary earns Title I honor

John Shaw Elementary School is one of two Alaska schools named National Title I Distinguished Schools by Alaska Department of Education and Early Development Commissioner Mike Hanley.

The school was recognized for exceptional student performance for two or more consecutive years. It serves about 385 students in grades pre-kindergarten to five. Last school year, 87 percent of its state-assessed students scored proficient or above in language arts and 84 percent proficient or above in math. Nearly half of Shaw students are economically disadvantaged, a quarter of students have disabilities and a fifth are English language learners.

John Shaw Elementary believes that relationships are the foundation upon which to build instructional practices. All core teachers loop, spending two years with the same class of students. The school has a strong professional learning community framework to engage in on-going professional development targeted to the unique needs of the students. Teachers participate in instructional tours, allowing them the experience of seeing best practices happening in other classrooms and the ability to give and receive feedback to each other to improve instruction. The school places emphasis on parent engagement and has trained a group of parents that serve as instructional tutors.

Title I schools receive federal funds to support programs that supplement instruction to meet the educational needs of low-achieving students in high-poverty schools. National Title I Distinguished Schools Program is a project of the National Title I Association. Selected schools must have a poverty rate of at least 35 percent and have met or exceeded state standards for making adequate yearly progress for two or more consecutive years. Each state, using its own selection process, may select two schools for the honor.

Alaska identifies eligible schools for the award based on student performance on state standards-based assessments in reading, writing and math.

Identified schools then must choose to apply for the honor, providing evidence of effectiveness in research-based instructional strategies, opportunities for all children to achieve, coordination of Title I with other programs, professional development of staff, and partnerships with parents, families and communities.

For more information about the National Title I Association Distinguished Schools program, visit nationaltitleiassociation.org.