[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 26 (Thursday, February 29, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Page S1465]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     TRIBUTE TO BLUE RIBBON SCHOOLS

 Mrs. HUTCHISON. Mr. President, I am here today to celebrate 
the achievements of the 27 schools from my State that were awarded the 
Department of Education's prestigious Blue Ribbon Award. The Blue 
Ribbon Award signifies excellence in education and calls attention to 
remarkably successful public and private schools.
  Blue ribbon schools display the superior qualities that are necessary 
to prepare our young people for the challenges of the next century. The 
recognized schools serve as models for other schools and communities 
seeking to provide high quality education for their students. This year 
266 secondary, junior high, and middle schools will be presented with 
the Blue Ribbon Award.
  After a vigorous screening process by each State Department of 
Education, a panel consisting of 100 outstanding educators and other 
professionals reviews the nominations, and selects the most promising 
schools for a site visit. After the schools have been visited, the 
panel considers the reports and forward its final recommendations to 
Secretary Riley, who then reveals the names of the schools selected for 
recognition.
  It is my honor and privilege to identify the following 27 Texas 
schools selected to receive a Blue Ribbon Award: Klein Oak High School, 
Plano Senior High School, Renner Middle School, Forest Meadow Junior 
High School, Strickland Middle School, Forest Park Middle School, Mayde 
Creek High School, Groesbeck Middle School, Lawrence D. Bell High 
School, Grapevine Middle School, Spring Forest Middle School, Spring 
Oaks Middle School, Northbrook Middle School, James E. Taylor High 
School, Westwood High School, Noel Grisham Middle School, Travis Middle 
School, Socorro High School, Lubbock High School, Lackland Junior-
Senior High School, Georgetown High School, Coppell Middle School West, 
Edward S. Marcus High School, Booker T. Washington High School for 
Performing and Visual Arts, Crookett Middle School, Carroll High 
School, and Carroll Middle School. They are clearly among the most 
distinguished schools in the Nation with a persistent commitment to 
excellence in education.
  I am elated that of all the schools selected from the entire United 
States, 10 percent are in Texas. Their achievements stand as positive 
testimony to the dedication, pride, and devotion to responsibility of 
the students, teachers, administrators, and parents at each of these 
blue ribbon schools.

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