States are required to report the names of all public schools that do not meet adequate yearly progress (AYP) on the state assessment, based on the state's AYP policies. These schools are considered to be in "school improvement" and are listed on the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction's (OSPI) website.
In an effort to increase accountability, Title I schools and districts that do not make adequate yearly progress on the state assessment face a series of specific actions as defined in the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). These actions are known as Steps 1-5 of School Improvement. Once a school has been designated as a Step 1 school (or any other step), it will remain in school improvement until it has met AYP for two consecutive years. Once a school has met AYP for two years, it will move out of School Improvement entirely.
Information about schools that are in "need of improvement" and the details and actions of each step must be made available to parents and community members in an understandable, accessible format by the beginning of the next school year.
Step 1, School Improvement, Public School CHOICE:
Public School CHOICE is the opportunity for parents to transfer their Title I children that attend a Step 1,
School Improvement school to another school in the district that met Adequate Yearly Progress and has
not been identified in School Improvement. The district assists parents with the transportation of their
children by paying them mileage reimbursement for travel to and from their home and the new receiving
school. Schools in Step 1 must set aside 10% of their building’s Title I budget to pay for professional
development for certificated and/or classified staff. The goal is to provide training for school staff on
improving the instruction for students in the sub-groups that did not meet AYP, thus improving the
chances of helping this group or groups pass MSP at the percentage needed for Adequate Yearly
Progress.
Step 2, School Improvement, Supplemental Educational Services (SES): Supplemental Educational Services provides free tutoring for low income students outside the school
day in qualifying Title I schools. Low income is determined by free/reduced lunch status. Students may
receive tutoring to improve reading and/or mathematics skills. Parents complete an application and select
the tutoring program they wish from a list of state-approved providers. Once verified, providers work out
location and schedule with the parents. Services can be done at school, in-home, or at a community
location. A Student Learning Plan is created for each student that is based on a district-prioritized subset
of the Washington State Standards for Reading and the Washington Performance Expectations for Math.
Providers communicate progress monthly. Parents are responsible for transporting their students, if
necessary, as there are no district buses or mileage reimbursement for transportation.
Schools in Step 2 also have the requirements of Step 1, so these schools also set aside 10% of their
building’s Title I budget to pay for professional development for certificated and/or classified staff. The
goal is to provide training for school staff on improving the instruction for students in the sub-groups that
did not meet AYP, thus improving the chances of helping this group or groups pass MSP at the
percentage needed for Adequate Yearly Progress.
Program Information: Title I Program Specialist: Carol Arden (360-313-2023), carol.arden@vansd.org
Title I/ELL Program Specialist:
Charity Nunnelley (360-313-1987),
charity.nunnelley@vansd.org
Public School Choice Mileage Reimbursement, SES Invoicing: Nancy Duncan, Accounting Specialist (360-313-1321), nancy.duncan@vansd.org
Administrator for Special Services: Karla Schlosser (360-313-1250), karla.schlosser@vansd.org
