Appendix C -- BLUE RIBBON SCHOOLS PROGRAM

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The Blue Ribbon Schools Program is a recognition program for schools that demonstrate a strong commitment to educational excellence for all students. The program welcomes applications from schools that have demonstrated sustained success in achieving these values, as well as schools that have overcome obstacles and can provide evidence of significant improvements. Instruction in the arts is one of the criteria by which a nominated school is evaluated as part of its overall curricula.

Public and private schools serving grades K-12 from the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Purerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, as well as Bureau of Indian Affairs and Department of Defense Dependents Schools, may be nominated. Schools must have been in operation for at least five years before applying to the program. Elementary and secondary schools are eligible to participate in alternate years.

Each state administers its own program for selecting public schools to be nominated to the national level. Chief state school officers make their nominations to the U.S. Department of Education. The number of schools each may nominate is indexed to the state's population. The Council for American Private Education nominates private schools, and officials of the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Department of Defense Dependents Schools nominate their schools. The national review panel evaluates the nominations and conducts site visits to nominated schools it selects. The panel makes recommendations to the U.S. Secretary of Education, who then announces the names of the schools selected for recognition.

The review panel considers the following "Conditions of Effective Schooling" in each school: student focus and support; challenging standards and curriculum; teaching and active learning; learning-centered school contexts; professional growth and collaboration; leadership and organizational vitality; and school, family, and community partnership. The review panel also considers objective "Indicators of Success." This category includes: student performance on measures of achievement; daily student and teacher attendance rates; school, staff, and student awards.

Each year, a limited number of special emphases are designated. These represent areas where school performance needs to be greatly improved and where effective models are sought. Schools may choose to seek honors in one special emphasis area in addition to comprehensive recognition, but this is optional.

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[ Appendix B: Legislative Support for Arts Education ] [ Appendix D: Proposed FCC Ruling Providing Discounts for Schools and Libraries to Access Telecommunications Services ]