[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 45 (Friday, April 15, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E669-E670]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




HONORING EARL WARREN MIDDLE SCHOOL AND TWIN OAKS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FOR 
            BEING RECOGNIZED AS NATIONAL BLUE RIBBON SCHOOLS

                                 ______
                                 

                     HON. RANDY ``DUKE'' CUNNINGHAM

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 14, 2005

  Mr. CUNNINGHAM. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to rise today to recognize 
that two blue ribbon schools in my 50th Congressional District of 
California are being honored as National Blue Ribbon Schools for 2004. 
These schools are:
  Earl Warren Middle School, Solana Beach, CA. The principal is Dr. 
Jeanne Jones, and the superintendent of the San Dieguito Unified School 
District is Dr. Peggy Lynch.
  Twin Oaks Elementary School, San Marcos, CA. The principal is Mrs. 
Carol Hayward, and the superintendent of the San Marcos Unified School 
District is Mr. Larry Maw.
  There are over 100,000 public and private schools in the United 
States and only 300 are able to be recognized as a ``National Blue 
Ribbon School'' by the U.S. Department of Education, including the two 
above in California's 50th Congressional District, and 39 in the State 
of California. The No Child Left Behind--Blue Ribbon Schools Program 
honors public and private K-12 schools that either demonstrate dramatic 
gains in student achievement or are academically superior in their 
states. It recognizes schools that have at least 40 percent of their 
students from disadvantaged backgrounds that dramatically improve 
student performance in accordance with

[[Page E670]]

the state assessment systems. It also rewards schools that score in the 
top 10 percent on state assessments. The faculty and students at Earl 
Warren Middle School and Twin Oaks Elementary School have demonstrated 
strong leadership, clear vision and mission, excellent teaching and 
curriculum, policies and practices that keep their schools safe for 
learning, expanded involvement of families, and evidence that both 
schools help all students achieve high standards.
  I am immensely proud of those involved whose outstanding and tireless 
work in the interest of better education has now been recognized 
through the National Blue Ribbon Schools program. This is particularly 
close to my heart, because, as a former teacher and coach, and as a 
father, one of my passions is improving education so that every 
American can have a fighting chance to achieve the American Dream.
  And while these two schools in my district have now been recognized 
as National Blue Ribbon Schools, the real winners are all of the 
children, parents, teachers and citizens who have all been challenged 
through this recognition to successfully improve education in all of 
their local communities.

                          ____________________