[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 75 (Wednesday, June 4, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1108-E1109]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


           TRIBUTE TO KEY LARGO ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. PETER DEUTSCH

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 4, 1997

  Mr. DEUTSCH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Key Largo 
Elementary and Middle School for being selected by the U.S. Department 
of Education as a 1996-97 Blue Ribbon School Award winner. The Key 
Largo School was given this prestigious award because of its excellence 
in preparing our young people for the challenges of the next century. 
Through the school's strong leadership, ingenuity in teaching, and 
commitment to the community, the Key Largo School is a model for all 
elementary and middle schools throughout the State and the Nation.
  Located in the Upper Florida Keys, 105 miles from district services 
in the Lower Keys, the Key Largo School has used their geographical 
challenges as a way to enhance educational opportunities for the 
students as well as the community. For more than 20 years, the school 
has successfully practiced school based management which has encouraged 
risk taking, accountability, and the management of the entire school 
budget at the school level.
  Today, the school educates 1,293 students from 3 years old to 15 
years old providing

[[Page E1109]]

them with an educational environment that is conducive for productive 
learning. Among their scholastic accomplishments, this past year Key 
Largo School scored above average on the Stanford Achievement Test in 
Reading and Math, scored an average of 3.9 on the Florida Writes Exam 
with 96 percent of the eighth grade students scoring three or above, 
and, since 1972, has received consecutive accreditation by the Southern 
Association of Colleges and Schools. In addition, the school has 
written and received many large and small grants including a Customer 
Focused School Grant, Retrofit Grant, Home School Connection Grant, and 
Learn and Serve Grant. The grants have helped to make the school a 
model technology school for the district and the State; initiate the 
research, development and implementation of a block scheduling program; 
develop a theme based alternative education program for at risk 
students from grade 4 through 8; and service more than 300 exceptional 
students ranging with disabilities from pre-school handicapped to 
severely emotionally disturbed to gifted. The support of the community, 
business partners, teachers, and parents has been instrumental to the 
successful learning behaviors of the students at Key Largo Elementary 
and Middle School.
  I commend Key Largo Elementary and Middle School on receiving the 
distinguished 1996-97 Blue Ribbon School Award. I know that the 
students and faculty will continue to exceed beyond their scholastic 
abilities and continue to be a model for schools throughout the 
country.

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