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James Byrd Elementary honored as Blue Ribbon School for closing achievement gaps
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Summary
James Byrd Elementary in the Shippensburg Area School District was recognized as a Blue Ribbon School in the category for closing achievement gaps. Staff described years of targeted work for special‑education subgroups, attendance improvement and family engagement that contributed to the award.
James Byrd Elementary staff told the Shippensburg Area School District Committee of the Whole that the school has been named a Blue Ribbon School in the federal award's category for closing achievement gaps.
At a presentation led by Mrs. Piles, teachers said the nomination and award followed years of focused work on the school's special education subgroup and chronic absenteeism. "It has been a journey," said Jill Martin, a first‑grade teacher who said she served on James Byrd's ATSI (additional targeted support and improvement) team. "We implemented many research‑based programs and evidence‑based strategies to grow not only our special ed population, but also the students and our staff overall."
The presenters described a series of steps they credited with progress: daily family communication through the ClassDojo platform; targeted attendance outreach (including mailed postcards after repeated absences); social‑emotional learning programs (Second Step and Caring School Community); adoption of PBIS data tracking; celebration assemblies and positive awards; smaller‑group reading interventions; and schoolwide initiatives described as "6 houses, 1 family" to strengthen belonging and family engagement.
School staff also said the award process changed recently when the U.S. Department of Education shifted program administration to states. "We received an email that said you have been nominated by the state of Pennsylvania to be a Blue Ribbon School," one presenter said, noting Pennsylvania now handles nomination vetting and final designation.
Why it matters: Blue Ribbon status recognizes national‑level academic excellence or progress in closing gaps among student subgroups. James Byrd staff and board members said the recognition reflects multi‑year, schoolwide work that continued through the COVID era.
Board members congratulated the staff and emphasized the award reflected collective effort across teachers and administrators.
The school did not announce additional district actions tied to the award at the meeting.
