ESSA specifies that state educational agencies identify for Comprehensive Support and Improvement (CSI) the lowest-performing schools, high schools with low graduation rates, and schools with chronically low-performing subgroups.
Method and Timeline
North Dakota selects schools with the highest proportion of struggling students for Comprehensive Support and Improvement every three years*. NDDPI works with school improvement teams and its leaders to develop a customized approach to address areas in need of improvement.
*Disclaimer: Due to a USED waiver issued in March 2020 as a result of the pandemic, states were allowed to pause accountability and the use of 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 data for identification purposes. Therefore, North Dakota is unable to fulfill the part of its ESSA plan that requires “three years of consecutive underperformance” when selecting schools for TSI/CSI. However, the USED required states to resume accountability in 2021-2022, and states were instructed to run accountability to ensure that schools that are underperforming compared to other schools in the state receive the support and resources needed to make improvements. The NDDPI utilized data from 2021-2022, 2022-2023, and 2023-2024 to determine TSI identification and to rank schools based on three years of underperformance and with subgroups performing below the highest-performing CSI school. The NDDPI will be able to fully implement its ESSA plan as written in the fall of 2025 for both TSI and CSI schools.
Identification Criteria
Schools must meet the following criteria:
- The lowest-performing 5% of all Title I schools in the state (based on the performance of the accountability framework over no more than three years)
- All public high schools (Title I or non-Title I) that graduate less than 67%
- Any school that was identified as Targeted Support and Improvement (TSI) and did not meet exit criteria after three consecutive years
Supports and Interventions
Schools selected are awarded school improvement grants for three consecutive years to implement evidence-based strategies and build local capacity to sustain improvement efforts. The following schools are currently identified as CSI schools:
| School | District | Grade Span | Grant Allocation | Interventions to Support School Improvement Efforts | Title I Status | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bowbells Elementary School | Bowbells 14 | 0K-06 | $60,000 | Additional Staff, Professional Development, Consultant Services, Technology | Targeted Assistance | 46 |
| Dickinson Middle School | Dickinson 1 | 06-08 | $75,000 | Para Professional Support, Professional Development, Technology | Schoolwide | 814 |
| Drayton Elementary School | Drayton 19 | PK-08 | $60,000 | Professional Development, Curriculum, Technology | Targeted Assistance | 115 |
| Dunseith Elementary School | Dunseith 1 | PK-06 | $60,000 | Curriculum | Schoolwide | 275 |
| Dunseith High School | Dunseith 1 | 07-12 | $67,500 | Professional Development, Curriculum (7-12), Technology | Schoolwide | 315 |
| Jefferson Elementary School | Fargo 1 | 0K-05 | $60,000 | Teacher Stipends, Para Professional Support, Consultant Services | Schoolwide | 288 |
| Four Winds Community High School | Ft Totten 30 | 09-12 | $60,000 | Teacher Stipends, Professional Development, Consultant Services | Schoolwide | 191 |
| Fort Yates Middle School | Ft Yates 4 | 05-08 | $60,000 | Coaching, Professional Development | Schoolwide | 67 |
| Valley Middle School | Grand Forks 1 | 06-08 | $67,500 | Coaching, Consultant Services | Schoolwide | 527 |
| Mandaree Elementary School | Mandaree 36 | 0K-08 | $60,000 | Professional Development | Schoolwide | 151 |
| Oberon Elementary School | Oberon 16 | 0K-08 | $60,000 | Interventionist, Consultant Services | Schoolwide | 55 |
| Selfridge Elementary School | Selfridge 8 | 0K-06 | $60,000 | Consultant Services | Schoolwide | 48 |
| Cannon Ball Elementary School | Solen 3 | PK-06 | $60,000 | Teacher Stipends, Professional Development, Instruction and Assessment Supplies | Schoolwide | 137 |
| Warwick Elementary School | Warwick 29 | PK-04 | $60,000 | Coaching, Consultant Services, Technology | Schoolwide | 87 |
| Warwick Middle School | Warwick 29 | 05-08 | $60,000 | Coaching, Consultant Services, Technology | Schoolwide | 61 |
CSI Grant Cycle and Allocation:
CSI Grant Funding Period: September 1, 2022 - December 31, 2025 (yearly contract with continuing renewal)
Additionally, the NDDPI will provide support and interventions for schools selected using a multifaceted approach:
- All schools are provided guidance and support including training on requirements and opportunities, and a Coaching Liaison to provide technical assistance
- NDDPI partners with the North Dakota Regional Education Associations (NDREAs) to support schools
- This partnership provides an opportunity for identified schools to receive assistance with federal requirements, which includes coaching, professional development, evidence-based instructional strategies, data-based decision-making, and ongoing support to meet improvement goals using the School Renewal Guide
- Watch this three-minute video for an overview of the Improvement Science approach that North Dakota is implementing: Improvement Science: A Key to Success in Your Schools - YouTube
- Schools receive priority points for NDDPI-sponsored opportunities
Additional Requirements
- School board and superintendent participation in the Be Legendary School Board Institute
- Quarterly Claims/Status Reports on funding support
- Increased scrutiny of State and Federal monitoring and required reports
Exit Criteria
A school may exit CSI status upon achieving:
- Scores that are above the bottom 5% of Title I schools for three consecutive years
- A graduation rate that is 67% or higher for three consecutive years
- Success in meeting established interim goals for three consecutive years for both academic achievement and graduation rates
Schools identified for more than one cycle are subject to more rigorous interventions, per ND FIRST.