A fifth Tacoma middle school, Baker, qualified to apply for federal School Improvement Grants earlier this year, based on its low state test scores.
But Tacoma officials decided not to ask for the money after they were told that school districts with prior SIG grants would receive low priority for further funding.
Instead, the staff at Baker will launch its own improvement initiative this fall.
Teachers at the South Tacoma school have agreed to pursue certification by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards.
The initiative will be funded with a combination of money from the teachers’ union and the school district, said Krestin Bahr, who oversees middle schools for the district.
National Board certification involves teachers in intensive study, expert evaluation, self-assessment and peer review. The standards board offers 25 certificates that cover a variety of subject areas.
Teachers who have undergone the process say achieving certification is a difficult but rewarding task that makes them better teachers. It has been recognized for its effectiveness by the National Research Council.
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