LANSING -The State Board of Education has announced that Michigan Blue Ribbons are being awarded to 23 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.

Straus pointed out that the Michigan Blue Ribbon Exemplary Schools program serves three purposes. The program identifies and recognizes outstanding schools across the state; makes research-based effectiveness criteria available to schools so they can assess themselves and plan improvements; and encourages schools to share their best practices for education success with other schools.

"Michigan Blue Ribbon Schools are models of both excellence and equity," Straus said. "To be recognized, a school must demonstrate a strong commitment to education excellence for all students."

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 2006-07 are:

• Clarkston Community Schools
  Andersonville Elementary School
  
  
• Lake Orion Community Schools
  Blanche Sims Elementary School
  
  
• Utica Community Schools
  Crissman Elementary School
  DeKeyser Elementary School
  Flickinger Elementary School
  Harvey Elementary School
  Schuchard Elementary School
  Schwarzkoff Elementary School
  West Utica Elementary School
  
  
• Detroit Edison Public School Academy
  
  
• Saugatuck Public Schools
  Douglas Elementary School
  
  
• Ypsilanti Public Schools
  Estabrook Elementary School
  
  
• Warren Consolidated Schools
  Fillmore Elementary School
  Harwood Elementary School
  
  
• West Bloomfield School District
  Gretchko Elementary School
  
  
• Niles Community Schools
  Howard-Ellis Elementary School
  
  
• Novi Community Schools
  Novi Meadows Elementary School
  
  
• Wyoming Public Schools
  Oriole Park Elementary School
  
  
• L'Anse Creuse Public Schools
  South River Elementary School
  
  
• Wayne-Westland Community Schools
  Walker-Winter Elementary School
  
  
• Sault Sainte Marie Area Public Schools
  Washington Elementary School
  
  
• Webberville Community Schools
  Webberville Elementary School
  
  
• Romulus Community Schools
  Wick Elementary School