Sequim Middle School and nine other Title I schools across Washington are getting a special designation — and funding — as pilot schools for the 2017-2018 school year.

Washington state’s Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction selected the Sequim school and others as a kind of case study to examine the state’s approach to addressing the federal school accountability and improvement.

While the coming school year is designated as a transitional year, the following school year (2018-2019) is the first fully operational year for the federal Every Student Succeeds Act, one that directs federal program operations and expenditures in the nation’s public schools.

Pilot schools will help officials understand how to approach school accountability and improvements in the federal law in coming years.

The designation comes with a $113,000 grant that will be utilized according to state guidelines to assist with student achievement, Sequim school officials said.

“We’re excited for the opportunity to continue to improve our school,” middle school principal Vince Riccobene said.

Each pilot school, Sequim school district officials said last week, has data showing “promising success” with its school improvement efforts, and “a proficient and professional set of research-based improvement plans” through Indistar, an online school improvement planning tool for school teams.

“Sequim Middle School has combined research-based best practices, data-driven decision making and a student-centered plan to create a culture and climate that thrives on helping students and families vision forward to graduation and the future,” Ann Renker, Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning for Sequim schools, said.

“We are seeing positive outcomes in academic, social and behavioral indicators, and are thankful to the staff, students, families and community for their hard work,” she said.