State Superintendent of
Public Instruction Tom Torlakson announced today the nomination of four local
public schools for the coveted National Blue Ribbon Schools Program award.
Congratulations to Kearny International business (San Diego Unified), Ocean Air
(Del Mar Union Elementary), Torrey Pines Elementary (San Diego Unified), and
Standley Middle (San Diego Unified). The schools are among only 35 statewide to
be nominated.
“I applaud the principals, teachers, staff, and families
whose commitment to learning has led to success in the classroom,” Torlakson
said. “Schools nominated for this significant recognition are performing at very
high levels or are making impressive strides in student progress under
challenging circumstances.”
Schools are eligible to be considered for
the 2013 National Blue Ribbon Schools Program if they meet either one of two
performance criteria:
Exemplary High-Performing Schools: Schools that
achieve at least the 85th percentile statewide in the percent of students
scoring proficient or advanced in English-language arts and mathematics on the
state assessments. Schools nominated in this category may or may not have at
least 40 percent of their students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Exemplary Improving Schools: Schools with at least 40 percent of their
students from a disadvantaged background that are also among the top 10 percent
of schools in the state showing the greatest improvement in the percent of
students scoring proficient or advanced in ELA and mathematics on the state
assessments over the last five years.
For additional information on Blue
Ribbon Schools Program eligibility requirements, please go to the California
Department of Education Web site at:
http://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/sr/br/.
Based on student population, California may nominate up to 35 qualified
schools each year. Blue Ribbon winners are usually announced in September.
The National Blue Ribbon Schools Program is part of a larger U.S.
Department of Education effort to identify and disseminate knowledge about best
school leadership and teaching practices.
For more information on the
federal program, please visit: http://www2.ed.gov/programs/nclbbrs/awards.html
