Coyote Canyon Elementary School’s Universal Access program has received a 2020 Golden Bell Award from the California School Boards Association (CSBA.) The CSBA Golden Bell Award promotes excellence in education and school board governance by recognizing outstanding programs and governance practices of school boards.
Universal Access is an intervention program that was first implemented at Coyote Canyon Elementary several years ago in order to ensure that every student participates in supplemental English Language Arts instruction in addition to his/her core block. Using assessment data, students are put in small groups to receive targeted, differentiated instruction to enhance literacy skills. The program’s success has been evident through the substantial gains made on state assessments. Additionally, other schools in Central School District have implemented the Universal Access model for intervention with positive outcomes.
The combined actions of school staff coupled with school board and community support have helped to achieve the goal of improving academic outcomes for ELA, narrowing achievement gaps, and providing equity and access for all students. Universal Access provides a learning environment where all students get what they need in order to advance their learning.