FIVE MINNESOTA PUBLIC SCHOOLS RECEIVE NCLB BLUE RIBBON

Roseville - U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings today named 320 schools, including seven in Minnesota, as 2008 No Child Left Behind -- Blue Ribbon Schools. The award recognizes schools for helping students achieve at very high levels and for making significant progress in closing the achievement gap.

Minnesota public schools honored as 2008 NCLB Blue Ribbon Schools are:

· Lincoln Elementary School, Fairbault

· Plymouth Creek Elementary School, Plymouth

· Shirley Hills Primary School, Mound

· Willow Lane Elementary, White Bear Lake

· Woodland Elementary School, Eagan

Two non-public schools were also honored:

· Holy Name of Jesus School, Wayzata

· Trinity School at River Ridge, Eagan

"Congratulations to the 2008 NCLB Blue Ribbon Schools," said Education Commissioner Alice Seagren. "These Minnesota Schools are excelling and providing a premier education with high expectations and increased rigor. When we raise academic expectations, Minnesota students will rise to meet the challenge."

For the past 26 years, this prestigious program has honored more than 5,800 of America's most successful schools.

"These Blue Ribbon Schools are an example of what teachers and students can achieve," Secretary Spellings said. "Now our challenge is to help other schools follow their lead by continuing to measure progress through No Child Left Behind, and by using the knowledge we've gained to replicate effective strategies and help every student improve."

The No Child Left Behind-Blue Ribbon Schools Program honors public and private elementary, middle and high schools that are either academically superior or that demonstrate dramatic gains in student achievement at high levels. The schools are selected based on one of two criteria:

· schools with at least 40 percent of their students from disadvantaged backgrounds that dramatically improve student performance to high levels on state tests; and

· schools whose students, regardless of background, achieve in the top 10 percent of their state on state tests or in the case of private schools in the top 10 percent of the nation on nationally-normed tests.

Under No Child Left Behind, schools must make Adequate Yearly Progress, or AYP, in reading (language arts) and mathematics. Each state-not the federal government-sets its own academic standards and benchmark goals.

A total of 413 schools nationwide can be nominated. This number is determined based on the number of K-12 students and the number of schools in each state, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. The Chief State School Officer (CSSO) nominates public schools, and the Council for American Private Education (CAPE) submits private schools' nominations. The schools are invited by Secretary Spellings to submit an application for possible recognition as a No Child Left Behind-Blue Ribbon School. This year's winners will be honored at an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. on October 20-21.