The district is applying for the grant under the turnaround reform model

Contact: Haley Miller (336) 370-3200
Created: 5/12/2010 8:02:57 AM

The Guilford County Board of Education approved Tuesday staff's recommendation to apply for the School Improvement Grant for Oak Hill Elementary under the turnaround reform model.

In March, the board approved for staff to notify the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction of Guilford County Schools' (GCS) intent to submit a School Improvement Grant application for Oak Hill Elementary under the transformation reform model, which was recommended because it did not cap the number of staff members that could return to Oak Hill. However, after checking with Oak Hill staff members, only 42 percent indicated a desire to reapply.

The turnaround model includes the same requirements as the transformation model except for the percentage of returning personnel. Also with the turnaround model, Oak Hill will not be under Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) sanctions for the 2010-11 school year.

"Essentially, with the turnaround model, the school's 'AYP clock' starts over," said Beth Folger, chief academic officer. "This will allow GCS to continue to improve the academic performance at Oak Hill, without facing more severe consequences under No Child Left Behind."

Oak Hill is one of eight schools in North Carolina to be identified as a Tier I Persistently Low-Achieving School. On End-of-Grade testing, only 24.9 percent of students were proficient in 2008 and only 29.7 percent were proficient in 2009. Oak Hill made expected growth and AYP once each in a five-year period. The school faces many challenges, including 97 percent of its students qualifying for free and reduced priced meals.