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

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

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.

Categories of Nomination Category 1: A school that has exceeded Annual Measurable Objectives (AMOs) for the current and previous years (accountability years and ) 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 and ) Only one school per category can be selected.

Selection Criteria Eligible schools must not have received this award for the past two years, and must meet the criteria below: 1. Poverty rate of at least 35% for each of the two most current consecutive school years; 2. Demonstrated high academic achievement for two or more of the most current consecutive school years; 3. Met or exceeded federal AMOs for two or more of the most current consecutive school years; 4. Obtained full state accreditation for the same two or more consecutive school years; and 5. Achieved a mean score at the 60 th percentile for both reading and mathematics.

Application Process Superintendent’s Memo #255-15Superintendent’s Memo #255-15, released October 2, 2015, provides instructions for developing the application. 1. Submit Intent to Apply Form (Attachment A) 2. Develop and submit Application (Attachment B) 3. Submit School Participation Form (Attachment C) with application. NOTE: Attachment C must be signed by the division superintendent or designee.

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 subject line

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

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.Frontiers of Opportunity

Direct Questions to: Ms. Gabie Frazier ; OR Dr. Lynn Sodat ;