DES MOINES, Wash. – The Washington State Board of Education’s March 17 meeting this week at Highline Community College will include a preview of the 2009 Washington Achievement Award winners, a collection of the state’s top-achieving schools.

The Washington Achievement Award includes two categories. The first celebrates the top five percent of elementary, middle, high, and comprehensive schools. The second award provides schools with special recognition for outstanding performance in:

Recipients are selected based on their assessment results in math, science, reading, writing, and the extended graduation rate (for high schools). Schools are also evaluated based on their success with low-income vs. non-low income students, their achievement compared to peer schools with similar demographics, and their improvement over time.

This is the inaugural year for the Washington Achievement Award. Next year’s award will include recognition for schools successful in closing the achievement gap.

The recognition program, scheduled for May 5, 2010, is a collaboration between the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction and the Washington State Board of Education.

Other agenda items for the Board meeting include an update on the common core standards, the state’s Race to the Top application status, and CORE 24 (the State Board of Education’s graduation requirements framework). The Board will also review the 2010 voluntary process and preview the potential 2011 required process for turning around the state’s persistently lowest achieving schools.

The meeting is scheduled to begin at 9:00 a.m.

The meeting agenda and materials are now available at: sbe.wa.gov/materials.

Time for public comment will be provided. The public and news media are invited to attend.

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Contact: Aaron Wyatt, Communications Manager

About the State Board of Education: The State Board of Education provides advocacy and strategic oversight of public education. The board is comprised of 16 members: five are elected by school board directors, seven are appointed by the Governor, two serve as student representatives, and one serves as a private school representative. The Superintendent of Public Instruction is also a member.

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