Founded in 1982, the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program recognizes public and private elementary, middle, and high schools where students perform at very high levels or where significant improvements are being made in students' academic achievement. A National Blue Ribbon Schools flag overhead has become a mark of excellence in education recognized by everyone from parents to policy-makers in thousands of communities. Since the program's founding, the U. S. Department of Education has bestowed this coveted award on more than 7,000 of America's schools.
In the greater Albany, NY area, two schools have just been awarded Blue Ribbon status for 2013. They are:
Elsmere Elementary School, 247 Delaware Avenue, Delmar, NY12054. The school is in the Bethlehem Central School District. The Principal is Mrs. Katherine Kloss.
Tesago Elementary School, 970 Route 146, Clifton Park, NY 12065. The school is in the Shenendehowa Central School District. The Principal is Mr. Gregory Pace.
Congratulations to these two school, the students, staff, and administrators.
Schools are nominated for the award based on several criteria. The schools must meet the minimum requirements established by the Education Department and describe any other criteria used by the state to nominate the schools. States must rely on their state assessment systems to identify schools for submission to the Secretary. The nomination criteria, including assessments, must pertain equally to all public schools nominated from the individual states.
At least one-third of the public schools nominated by each state must be schools with at least 40 percent of their students from disadvantaged backgrounds. In addition, all nominated public schools must have made Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) in each of the two years prior to nomination (2010-2011 and 2011-2012) and must also make AYP for the year in which they are nominated (2012-2013).
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