The Georgia Department of Education’s (Department's) Academic Achievement Awards Program honors and rewards K-12 Title I schools and school districts for significant progress in improving student achievement and/or making significant progress in closing the achievement gaps. Georgia’s ESEA Flexibility Waiver has allowed the state’s Title Programs Division to move from the ESEA’s Distinguished School and Distinguished District Awards Program to the Reward School and Reward District Program.
Title I Reward Schools
The Title I Reward Schools Program recognizes and honors two categories of Reward Schools: Highest-Performing Reward Schools and High-Progress Reward Schools.
Highest-Performing Reward School
Based on the definition of Reward Schools found in the ESEA
Flexibility waiver, the Highest-Performing Reward Schools that are among the
highest 5-percent of the Title I schools in the state.
Calculations to identify these schools are based on the achievement of
the “all students” group in terms of proficiency on the statewide assessments
that are part the SEA’s differentiated recognition, accountability, and support
system. Highest-Performing Reward
Schools are identified annually.
State assessment data are utilized for calculating the
Content Mastery indicators on the CCRPI.
The Meets and Exceeds rate is calculated for each subject
assessment. Points are awarded based on
the indicator’s Meets and Exceeds rate.
The Content Mastery category performance, a decimal value, represents an
aggregate Meets and Exceeds rate for all subject assessments.
High-Progress Reward School
Based on the definition of Reward Schools found in the ESEA
Flexibility waiver, the High-Progress Reward Schools that are among the
highest 10-percent of the Title I schools in the state. Calculations to identify these schools are
based on the achievement of the “all students” group in terms of proficiency on
the statewide assessments that are part the SEA’s differentiated recognition,
accountability, and support system.
Highest-Performing Reward Schools will be identified annually.
Student Growth Percentiles are utilized for calculating
progress on the CCRPI. The Progress component of the CCRPI represents 25 points
of the 100 point total. The percent
demonstrating typical/high growth is multiplied by 25 points to derive the
points earned for Progress.
Recognition and
Funding
The Highest-Performing and High-Progress Title I Schools are
recognized each year at the Annual Federal Programs Conference. Further, when
available these schools will each receive a monetary reward equal to Georgia’s
total reward allotment divided by the total number of Reward Schools. Each Title I Highest-Preforming and High-Progress schools will receive a Reward Certificate.
Title I Reward Districts Program
The Title I Reward Districts Program recognizes and honors
local school districts that have made the greatest gains. This grant recognizes four Title I
Reward Districts for highest performance among Title I Districts in the state:
*One large school district with 10,000 or more
students
*One medium school district with 4,000 to 9,999
students
*One small school district with 2,000 to 3,999
students
*One extra small school district with fewer than 2,000
students
Honored
school districts receive a certificate of recognition, a $50,000 monetary
award, and are honored at the Annual Statewide Federal Programs Conference. Districts may use their funds to provide district,
staff, teachers, and school level staff bonuses and/or to purchase
instructionally related supplies and services for the district.
National Title I Distinguished Schools Program
The National
Title I Distinguished Schools Recognition Program (NTIDSRP) recognizes two school
from each state as examples of superior Title I school programs. Each selected school must have a poverty rate
of at least 35-percent for the selected year and demonstrating high academic
achievement for making the greatest gains in closing the achievement gap for
two or more consecutive years. Schools
are honored in one of two categories.
*Category One recognizes Title I schools that have exhibited significant
progress in improving student achievement for two or more consecutive years.
*Category Two recognizes Title I schools that have made the
most profess in significantly closing the achievement gap between subgroups.
Honored
schools receive a grant award from GaDOE and are honored each year by the
National Association of State Title I Directors (NASTID) at their annual
National Title I Conference.
Academic Achievement Awards Resources
Reward Schools
FY16
National Title I Distinguished Schools