A r c h i v e d I n f o r m a t i o n

   FOR RELEASE                             Contact: Melinda Kitchell    October 6, 1994                                    (202) 401-1008

BLUE RIBBON SCHOOLS HONORED IN WASHINGTON, D.C.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 6 -- Principals, teachers, students, school administrators, and others representing 276 elementary schools are being honored this week in ceremonies at the White House and around the nation's capital under the U.S. Department of Education's Blue Ribbon Schools recognition program.

Vice President Gore is scheduled to meet with the 1993-94 Blue Ribbon Schools representatives at the White House on Oct. 7. The schools also will be honored at an awards luncheon to be hosted by U.S. Secretary of Education Richard W. Riley. Each school will receive a special flag to be flown over the school and a plaque commemorating the achievement.

The public and private schools are also being recognized at a reception at the Washington Hilton hosted by Deputy Education Secretary Madeleine Kunin. Principals will be honored by the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) at a breakfast.

"As the nation seeks to improve learning, we can learn by example from these Blue Ribbon Schools," Riley said. "These schools reflect the paramount importance of strong schools, strong family involvement and building community partnerships for learning."

"Blue Ribbon Schools have an uncommon ability to do whatever they must to assure each student will succeed," said Samuel G. Sava, executive director of NAESP. "Blue Ribbon Schools also have a very common denominator -- great leadership. We salute these outstanding schools and their principals."

The 12-year-old Blue Ribbon Schools program rewards excellence in education by spotlighting outstanding leadership, school organization, teaching, curricula, and parental involvement. The program calls national attention to highly successful schools which can serve to motivate other schools striving for excellence.

This year, 220 public schools and 56 private schools in 45 states and the District of Columbia were chosen. Among the public schools being honored is an overseas Department of Defense Dependents School in Honshu, Japan.

Established in 1982, the Blue Ribbon Schools program honors elementary and secondary schools in alternate years. State education agencies, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Department of Defense Dependents Schools, and the Council for American Private Education nominated 529 elementary schools for the 1993- 94 competition.

Selection of Blue Ribbon Schools is based on an evaluation of written materials from the nominated schools and the reports of experienced principals and teachers who visit the nominated schools. Reviewers make recommendations to the secretary for final selection.

Sponsors for the ceremonies are the Chrysler Corp. Fund; TRW, Inc.; and The Variable Annuity Life Insurance Co.