[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 128 (Wednesday, October 5, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Page S11125]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              HONORING SOUTH DAKOTA'S BLUE RIBBON SCHOOLS

 Mr. JOHNSON. Mr. President, it is with great pleasure that I 
rise today to publicly honor and congratulate O'Gorman High School of 
Sioux Falls, Alcester-Hudson Elementary, and Corsica Elementary on 
achieving blue ribbon status under the Federal No Child Left Behind 
Act. All three schools earned the prestigious blue ribbon designation 
based on strong test scores and a myriad of other successes.
  These three schools are among only 295 recognized nationwide this 
year, and O'Gorman is 1 of only 40 high schools to receive this 
distinction. In fact, O'Gorman is the only high school in the entire 
Denver region, which includes South Dakota, North Dakota, Wyoming, 
Montana, Colorado, and Utah, to earn this honor.
  For public schools such as Alcester-Hudson Elementary and Corsica 
Elementary to qualify for blue ribbon status, they must meet State 
testing levels or have a student body comprised of a high percentage of 
economically disadvantaged students, yet demonstrate improvement. 
Achieving this goal is a wonderful accomplishment and Alcester-Hudson 
and Corsica elementary schools ought to be commended.
  Although all South Dakota public schools are required to take part in 
Dakota STEP, the State's test for tracking progress under the No Child 
Left Behind Act, private schools, on the other hand, are under no such 
obligation. Nonetheless, O'Gorman administers the Dakota STEP exam to 
provide parents and supporters a comparison between O'Gorman students 
and those of other schools. Unlike the criteria used to rate public 
schools, the standards private schools are required to meet in order to 
achieve blue ribbon status are more rigorous, as students must place in 
the top 10 percent on both the State test and on the national level for 
reading and math. As noted by Kyle Groos, principal of O'Gorman High 
School, the junior class scored in the top 10 percent of schools on the 
State test, with more than 90 percent of students considered proficient 
or advanced in reading and math.
  While test scores play a significant role in determining whether a 
school fits the blue ribbon standard, O'Gorman also submitted in its 
application a 24-page report detailing the school's various attributes. 
The statement highlighted students' high participation in the 
performing arts, the school's many sports championships, the 13,000 
hours students devoted to volunteering and community service last year, 
as well as O'Gorman's emphasis on foreign language, math and theology 
studies.
  Earning this distinction under No Child Left Behind is certainly an 
achievement for all these outstanding schools; however, O'Gorman was 
also a blue ribbon school under the Federal Government's former 
recognition program that began in 1982. Like the previous Blue Ribbon 
Schools Program, this distinction is one that never expires unless the 
program is replaced.
  I am proud to have this opportunity to honor these three exceptional 
schools. It is a privilege for me to share with my colleagues the 
exemplary leadership and tireless commitment to education O'Gorman High 
School, Alcester-Hudson Elementary, and Corsica Elementary provide to 
their students. I strongly commend the hard work and dedication all the 
faculty, administrators, and staff devote to these three institutions, 
and I am very pleased that their dedication and the students' 
substantial efforts are being publicly honored and celebrated. On 
behalf of all South Dakotans, I would like to congratulate these three 
extraordinary schools and wish them all the best.

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