Redesigning Washington’s School Recognition System
In May 2018, the State Board of Education (SBE), the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI), and the Educational Opportunity Gap Oversight and Accountability Committee (EOGOAC) convened a workgroup to redesign Washington’s school recognition system. The goal was to create a more equitable framework that better highlights successes across the K-12 education system. This effort was driven in part by shifts to the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) accountability system and a collective commitment to ensuring equity in school recognition.
The recognition workgroup developed a pilot system as the first phase in a multi-step redesign. The new approach incorporates both state-level and local data to identify schools demonstrating exemplary growth and achievement. This Phase I framework established a single system of recognition with three routes to recognition, each utilizing multiple measures derived from the Washington School Improvement Framework (WSIF). The system aims to identify schools at various points on the continuum of support, recognizing those making significant gains and progressing toward overall improvement in student outcomes.
These refinements will create a more inclusive and meaningful recognition system that celebrates student success, school improvement, and equitable educational outcomes across Washington.
Work Group Meeting Dates
| Date | Meeting Place | Meeting Materials |
|---|---|---|
| January 22, 2020 | Olympia School District Office | |
| December 3, 2019 | Highline College | |
| October 1, 2019 | Renton Technical College Annex | |
| July 30, 2019 | Renton Technical College Annex |
Work Group Leadership
| Organization Contacts | Organization | |
|---|---|---|
| Randy Spaulding, Executive Director | State Board of Education | randy.spaulding@k12.wa.us |
| Tami Jensen, Executive Assistant | State Board of Education | tami.jensen@k12.wa.us |
| Michaela Miller, Deputy Superintendent | OSPI | michaela.miller@k12.wa.us |
| Jami Peterson, Executive Assistant | OSPI | jami.peterson@k12.wa.us |
| Maria Flores, Director Title II, Part A | EOGOAC | maria.flores@k12.wa.us |
| Heather Rees, Administrative Assistant | EOGOAC | heather.rees@k12.wa.us |
Statutory Charge of the Work Group
RCW 28A.657.110(3) specifies that the SBE, in cooperation with the OSPI, shall annually recognize schools for exemplary performance as measured on the Washington School Improvement Framework. The SBE shall have ongoing collaboration with the EOGOAC regarding the measures used to measure the closing of the achievement gaps and the recognition provided to the school districts for closing the achievement gaps.