Kingswood Elementary Named National Title I Distinguished School
January 6, 2011 – Kingswood Elementary School has been recognized as a 2010 National Title I Distinguished School by the National Title I Association. Kingswood is one of only two schools in the state selected for this honor.
Principal Sherry Schliesser said the teachers at Kingswood have been working to internalize the powerful practices of professional learning teams, Positive Behavior Intervention and Support (PBIS), and Sheltered Instruction Observation Protocol (SIOP) which helps teachers plan and deliver lessons that allow English learners to acquire academic knowledge as they develop English language proficiency.
"Our school and community work collaboratively to advocate for student growth," she said. "Student success is at the heart of every decision made in our school."
Since 1996, the National Title I Distinguished School Program has honored schools across the country for their innovation in helping Title I populations achieve high educational standards. Two schools are selected from each state by members of the National Title I Association. These schools represent examples of superior Title I programs in one of two categories:
- Exceptional student performance for two or more consecutive years or
- Closing the achievement gap between student groups.
In North Carolina, Kingswood was selected for closing the achievement gap with high growth in the school's subgroups. Laurel Hill Elementary in Scotland County was honored for exceptional student performance for two or more consecutive years.
Selected schools must have a poverty rate of at least 35 percent for the selected year and must have demonstrated high academic achievement for two or more consecutive years and met or exceeded state standards for making adequate yearly progress (AYP) for two or more consecutive years.
Both schools will be honored at the National Title I Association's conference in Tampa, FL, Jan 30 - Feb 3.