LANSING –The State Board of Education has announced that Michigan Blue Ribbons are being awarded to 32 elementary schools this year, recognizing outstanding improvement strategies throughout the state.

“The Blue Ribbon program’s selection committee chose these schools as meeting some very tough criteria in delivering quality education to their students,” said State Board of Education President Kathleen N. Straus.  “All these schools, their teachers, students, parents, and communities should be very proud of their accomplishment.”

Established in 1982, the Michigan Blue Ribbon Exemplary School Program recognizes schools that demonstrate a strong commitment to educational excellence and significant academic improvement over five years.  Schools must complete a comprehensive report of key criteria for school effectiveness that serves as a basis for an extensive assessment of their building and programs.

The Michigan Blue Ribbon program is far more rigorous and comprehensive than the National Blue Ribbon, Straus noted.  The Michigan Blue Ribbon is awarded to schools based on academic achievement, accreditation, school organization and culture, student focus and support, curriculum, quality teaching, and family and community partnerships with the school; whereas, the National Blue Ribbon is awarded on the basis of academic achievement scores alone.

 “The State Board and our Blue Ribbon committee of educators recognize and reinforce the belief that schools are more than a single test on a single day,” Straus said.  “A Michigan Blue Ribbon school must reflect and exhibit the many facets of a quality educational environment.”

In addition, the State Board of Education stipulates that awarded schools must have made Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) as required by the federal No Child Left Behind law; have a Michigan EducationYES! School Report Card grade of A or B; and not have a Native American-based school mascot, nickname, or logo.

After interested public and/or private schools apply for consideration, a series of peer review committees make a preliminary selection of those schools they believe warrant a site verification visit.  The review committees and site visit teams are composed of teachers and administrators from previously recognized Blue Ribbon Schools.  Reports from the site visits, along with the extensive research and data provided by the schools, are considered by the selection committee.

To ensure a fair and equal selection system, elementary and secondary schools compete separately on alternate years.  Elementary schools were eligible to apply for the Blue Ribbon award this year.  Michigan ’s Blue Ribbon Exemplary Schools for 2004-05 are:

Bedford Public Schools
Temperance Road Elementary

Cassopolis Public Schools
Sam Adams Elementary

Clarenceville School District
Grandview Elementary

Clarkston Community Schools
North Sashabaw Elementary

Dundee Community Schools
Dundee Elementary

Edwardsburg Public Schools
Eagle Lake Elementary

Greenville Public Schools
Lincoln Heights Elementary

Farmington Public Schools
Beechview Elementary

Howell Public Schools
Voyager Elementary

Ionia Public Schools
Rather Elementary

Lake Orion Community Schools
Orion Oaks Elementary

Rockford Public Schools
Crestwood Elementary

Romulus Community Schools
Barth Elementary

School District of the City of Saginaw
Kempton Elementary

Southfield Public Schools
Stevenson Elementary
Brace-Lederle W.L. Magnet School

Taylor School District
Randall Elementary School

Tri-County Area Schools
Edgerton Upper Elementary

Troy School District
Wattles Elementary
Ruth Wass Elementary
Hamilton Elementary

Utica Community Schools
Magahay Elementary
Browning Elementary
Walsh Elementary

Warren Consolidated Schools
Siersma Elementary
Pearl Lean Elementary
Hatherly Elementary

Waterford School District
Haviland Elementary
Houghton Elementary
Schoolcraft Elementary

Wayne-Westland Community Schools
Edison Elementary

West Ottawa Public Schools
Waukazoo Elementary