Seven elementary schools in Santa
Barbara County are among the 424 statewide that have been named California
Distinguished Schools for 2014. Those honored locally are Ballard Elementary in
the Ballard School District; Carpinteria Family School and Summerland
Elementary in the Carpinteria Unified School District; Cold Spring Elementary,
Cold Spring School District; Mountain View Elementary, Goleta Union School
District; Montecito Union, Montecito Union School District; and Ralph Dunlap
Elementary, Orcutt Union School District. The announcement Wednesday by State
Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson cited these schools’ “strong
commitment and innovative approaches to improving student academic
achievement.”
The California Distinguished
Schools Program honors schools that have made progress in narrowing the
academic achievement gap. It recognizes elementary and secondary schools in
alternating years. Distinguished Schools must meet a variety of eligibility
criteria, including designated state and federal accountability measures. The
process also involves a written application, which includes a comprehensive
description of two of the school's “signature practices” that staff members
believe have contributed to their students’ success. If an application is
accepted, the school is visited by a team of local educators who evaluate and
validate the implementation of those signature practices. The site visits and
evaluations were coordinated locally by Steven Keithley, Director of Teacher
Programs and Support at the Santa Barbara County Education Office (SBCEO).
Distinguished Schools agree to
share their signature practices with other schools and become mentors to those
seeking to replicate their work. To reach any of the seven local Distinguished
Schools, go to sbceo.org/schools/public.shtml for contact information.
For more information on the local review process, contact Keithley at skeithley@sbceo.org
or 964 4710, ext. 5281. For more information on the state program, go to www.cde.ca.gov/ta/sr/cs/index.asp.
