Fremont STARS earns top Title 1 honors
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on September 16, 2013 1:46 PM
FREMONT -- Fremont STARS Elementary School has been designated a Title I Reward School for the 2013-14 school year.
The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction recently announced 174 Title I schools in the state on the list, with Fremont being the only one from Wayne County. Two schools will be chosen to represent the state in the national Title I Distinguished Schools Program.
Fremont Principal Sheila Wolfe and representatives of her staff were recognized last week by the Wayne County Board of Education.
"The school received this designation because it was identified to be among the highest 10 percent of Title I schools for having made the most progress in improving the performance of the 'all students group' over a number of years on statewide assessments," school board member Eddie Radford said.
"The Title I Reward School program was implemented last year, as part of the state's differentiated system of recognition, accountability and support for schools. Following approval from the United States Department of Education, NCDPI began identifying the state's top performing Title I schools."
Schools chosen for the list are identified in one of two categories, officials said -- the highest-performing school, which means the school has performed well over a number of years in all subgroups, including the all students group, on statewide assessments, or high-progress school, making the most progress in improving the performance of the all students group over a number of years on the statewide assessments.
Data was derived from the 2011-12 school years and the two years prior to determine which schools were among the top 10 percent.
All Reward Schools submit portfolios and along with on-site visits, will be reviewed and considered for the national distinction.
Title I is the federal education funding program for schools, with funding based upon the number of low-income children, generally based upon those eligible for the free and reduced lunch program. The funding initiative is also geared to help students who are lagging academically or at risk of falling behind.
On behalf of the school board, Radford commended Mrs. Wolfe and her staff for their "hard work and excellence" demonstrated to earn the honor.