Newhall School District

 California Distinguished Awards

As stated on the California Department of Education website “The California Distinguished Schools (DS) program was established by the CDE in 1985 and recognizes schools that demonstrate exemplary achievements. The California DS program recognizes elementary and middle and high schools in alternate years. Schools recognized as a California DS awardee hold the DS title for two years. California uses a multiple measures accountability system to identify eligible schools based on their performance and progress on the state indicators as specified on the California school dashboard.”

 National Blue Ribbon Schools

As stated on the California Department of Education website “the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program recognizes public and private elementary, middle, and high schools based on their overall academic excellence or their progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups. Originated by Secretary of Education Terrel H. Bell in 1982, the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program is an important part of the United States Department of Education (ED).

At least one-third of the public schools nominated by each state must be schools with a high percentage of students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

• What constitutes “disadvantaged backgrounds” is defined by the CSSO of each state. The definition may include economically disadvantaged students, that is, students who are eligible for free and reduced-price school meals; students with disabilities; students who are English language learners; migrant students; and/or students receiving services under Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015.
• “High percentage” means at least 40 percent unless a state has found that this threshold precludes identifying a sufficient number of such schools. Such a state may propose to use a percentage lower than 40 percent as long as the proposed percentage is no lower than the state’s overall (average) percentage of students from disadvantaged backgrounds as defined by the state.

Additional information about the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program can be found on the United States Department of Education National Blue Ribbon Schools Program website.

 

 Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS)

Schools may apply to be recognized as bronze, silver, gold, or platinum PBIS schools. PBIS recognition award system is to identify schools that exemplify the highest levels of systems, data, and practices in their implementation of PBIS. PBIS award-level schools have easily identifiable characteristics and are consistent in their methods of maintaining organized team based planning; maintaining high levels of administrative involvement and support; and systematically collecting, reviewing, and applying data using a problem-solving process. These schools do a superior job of enhancing their school climate and culture in support of students and their academic achievement.

 California Title 1 Academic Achievement Award

According to the California Department of Education website this is “a former component of the California Department of Education (CDE) California School Recognition Program (CSRP), the Title I Academic Achievement Awards (AAA) was required by Section 1117 (b) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) of 2001. The Title I AAA honored schools met a variety of eligibility criteria including designated federal and state accountability measures based on Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) and Academic Performance Index (API) requirements.”

 California Honor Roll Schools & Districts

Educational Results Partnership’s (ERP) Honor Roll program, is part of a national effort to identify higher-performing schools and districts that are improving student outcomes. The Honor Roll is the only school recognition program in the state using exclusively student achievement outcomes as the criteria and the only award given in collaboration with business leaders. Honor Roll schools are recognized for demonstrating consistently higher levels of student achievement comprehensively across all student populations, improvement in academic achievement over time, and a reduction in achievement gaps among students.