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Home :: School Improvement :: Blue Ribbon Schools
Blue Ribbon Schools
The No Child Left Behind Blue Ribbon Schools (BRS) program is
a nationally recognized program sponsored by the US Department
of Education (USDE). The program recognizes successful elementary
and/or secondary schools in the United States that are academically
superior, that make significant progress in closing the achievement
gap or that demonstrate dramatic changes in student achievement
in Reading and Mathematics for all students. Since 1982, the program
has evolved into a national school improvement spotlight for schools
and has led many states to related school improvement programs.
There are three purposes for the BRS program:
- Identify and recognize outstanding public and private schools
across the nation
- Make research-based effectiveness criteria available to all
schools so they can assess themselves and plan for school improvement
- Encourage schools to share best practices based on a common
understanding of criteria related to educational success.
Public and private K-12 schools in the nation are eligible to
be nominated. The Florida Department of Education nominates
public schools within the state of Florida. The Council for
American Private Education (CAPE) nominates private schools.
There are two assessment criteria that must be met to nominate
a school:
- At least 40% of the students in the school must come from a
disadvantaged background (Free or Reduced Lunch [FRL]; Title
I eligible, Limited English Proficient [LEP]; or Migrant). This
group of students must show dramatic improvement in FCAT test
scores in both Reading and Mathematics for all students in the
school for the most recent three years (at a 60% proficiency
level on FCAT or higher).
- Regardless of demographics, the school must be in the top 10%
of schools in Florida as measured by FCAT in both Reading and
Mathematics for at least the most recent of the past three years.
A nominated school has to have been in existence for at least
five years and have three years of assessment data. A school cannot
be in school improvement status or be deemed ‘persistently
dangerous’for the latest two years of its most recent three
years reported. Nominated schools must make Adequate Yearly
Progress (AYP) for the latest two years, including the year they
are nominated. The school’s assessment data must show
dramatically improving test scores in Reading and Mathematics for
all students and show evidence of closing the achievement gap.
A winning school must demonstrate a strong commitment to educational
excellence and equity for all students. Schools demonstrating
sustainability of these values along with schools overcoming obstacles
and providing evidence of significant improvements are nominated
and encouraged to apply. The program offers a way to acknowledge
the hard work of students, staff, family, and community stakeholders
for closing achievement gaps.
The winning Blue Ribbon Schools are honored annually at a Washington,
DC ceremony and their applications are posted to the USDE website
at: http://www.ed.gov/programs/nclbbrs/index.html . Each
of the winners is presented with a Blue Ribbon Schools award plaque
and flag to display at their schools.
On September 15 2009, the 2009 National Blue Ribbon Schools were announced by U. S. Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan.
314 public and private schools will be honored at a ceremony in Washington, D.C., November 2-3, 2009.
List of 2009 Blue Ribbon Schools- Florida Public and Private
Links
Complete
list of Florida's Blue Ribbon Schools from 1982 - 2008
No
Child Left Behind - Blue Ribbon Schools Program
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