Reidland Elementary School (McCracken County) was recognized as a 2019 National ESEA Distinguished School by the National Association of ESEA State Program Administrators.

Reidland Elementary School (McCracken County) was recognized as a 2019 National ESEA Distinguished School by the National Association of ESEA State Program Administrators. Attending the ceremony were front row, from left, Chelsea Parker, April Bynum, Kaitlyn Hill, Anne Cox, back row, from left, Beth Lane, Justin Green, Laura Knerr, Mariah Clark, Rebecca Woodall and Jeffrey Sturm.
Submitted photo

(FRANKFORT, KY) – The National Association of Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) State Program Administrators (NAESPA) honored two Kentucky schools as 2019 National ESEA Distinguished Schools Feb. 5 during the 2020 National ESEA Conference in Atlanta. They were among 73 schools nationwide to receive the honor.

Sublimity Elementary School (Laurel County) was recognized for exceptional student performance for two consecutive years. Reidland Elementary School (McCracken County) was recognized for significantly closing the achievement gap between student groups.

Sublimity Elementary School (Laurel County) was recognized as a 2019 National ESEA Distinguished School by the National Association of ESEA State Program Administrators.

Sublimity Elementary School (Laurel County) was recognized as a 2019 National ESEA Distinguished School by the National Association of ESEA State Program Administrators. Attending the ceremony were, from left, teachers Jennifer Lawson, Jennifer Turner, Principal Kristina Thomas and teachers Lauren Taylor and Lynn Deweese.
Submitted photo

The National Association of ESEA State Program Administrators – formerly the National Title I Association – is dedicated to building the capacity of education professionals to provide disadvantaged children with a high-quality education. NAESPA implemented the National ESEA Distinguished Schools Program to highlight schools that have effectively used their ESEA federal funds to improve education outcomes for students. The program acknowledged the success of schools in one of three categories:

  • Category 1: Exceptional student performance for two consecutive years
  • Category 2: Closing the achievement gap between student groups
  • Category 3: Excellence in serving special populations of students (such as homelessness, migrant, English learners, etc.)

Title I is the cornerstone of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act and is the largest federally funded pre-college education program in the United States. Together with other federal education programs of the ESEA – which are jointly focused on student equity and access – they provide funding to school districts to aid primarily in the education of economically disadvantaged students.

More information about all National ESEA Distinguished Schools is available on the NAESPA website, including a list of the schools honored. States not listed did not participate in 2019.