[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 131 (Monday, October 17, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Pages S11417-S11418]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              IN CELEBRATION OF BLUE RIBBON SCHOOLS AWARDS

 Mr. CARPER. Mr. President, today I wish to celebrate the 
selection of Booker T. Washington Elementary School as a No Child Left 
Behind-Blue Ribbon Schools Award recipient. This prestigious honor is 
awarded to exemplary schools that meet one of two criteria. The 
nominated school must have at least 40 percent of a nominated school's 
student population come from disadvantaged backgrounds, and each 
segment--including Whites, Blacks, Hispanics, low-income and special 
education students must show scholastic improvement, or the school must 
score in the top 10 percent on State achievement tests. This is a well 
deserved honor for Booker T. Washington Elementary School, attesting to 
years of tireless commitment that this school, as well as the First 
State, brings to educating our youth.
  Booker T. Washington Elementary School is located in historic Dover, 
DE, the State's Capital. The school was founded in 1919 to serve 
approximately 240 African-American children from two schools in the 
downtown Dover area. Today, the school serves approximately 350 
students. Booker T. Washington's student body is now comprised of 56 
percent African American, 2 percent Asian American, 8 percent Hispanic, 
and 34 percent Caucasian students. Twenty-three percent of the students 
are identified as special needs students. Approximately 9 percent of 
the students have limited English proficiency. Forty-four percent of 
the students qualify as low income. The school's small size and 
culturally rich student and staff population enhance the educational 
and social-emotional growth of the children and affords the school the 
opportunity to personalize the learning experience for the children.
  The mission of Booker T. Washington is to offer the best educational 
program possible in order to develop the mind and character of each 
child. To accomplish this mission, the school has established a firm 
foundation in the core subject areas. Led by Principal Marcia Johnson, 
they have established high expectations for all children and 
communicate these expectations daily in the staffs' work with them. 
Booker T. Washington provides an environment that celebrates and 
promotes understanding of self and others, and expects that everyone 
will behave in a manner that represents the standards that have been 
set for the school community. Booker T. Washington has established 
close working relationships with the parents and the community and 
depends on their support to help the school meet its goals.
  Booker T. Washington's primary program nurtures the continuing growth 
of children's knowledge and understanding of themselves and their 
world. The remarkable growth of all children over the past 5 years is 
evident in the decreases in the achievement gaps between all subgroups 
of children served in the school. Not only is this school meeting 
yearly targets for all subgroups set by the State and capital school 
district, but they are also moving more children into higher 
achievement levels. The growth that children have made is also a direct 
result of staff members' use of data to make instructional decisions 
and their willingness to change their instructional practices by 
participating in professional development activities based on best 
practices. Collaborative decisionmaking and the participation of 
parents and the community in the decisionmaking process have added to 
Booker T. Washington's success.
  The faculty and staff view themselves as a work in progress. They 
understand how far they have come over the past 5 years to change the 
community's perception of their school and to provide instructional 
activities that will move children toward the goals the district, 
State, and No Child Left Behind legislation have set for them as 
learners. Five years ago, there were vast differences in student 
achievement in the areas of reading, writing, and mathematics. Today, 
although some discrepancies remain, the gap has narrowed significantly 
and continues to close. The school's selection as a national blue 
ribbon school is a testament to their hard work and dedication.
  Delaware is a small State, but we are building a growing record of 
achievement in public school education. Helping lead the way are the 
students at Booker T. Washington Elementary School, along with their 
teachers and parents. Collectively, they are truly an inspiration to 
other schools and communities in Delaware and throughout our Nation.
  Today we also celebrate the selection of Long Neck Elementary School 
as a No Child Left Behind-Blue Ribbon Schools Award recipient. This 
prestigious honor is awarded to exemplary schools that meet one of two 
criteria. The nominated school must have at least 40 percent of a 
nominated school's student population come from disadvantaged 
backgrounds, and each segment--including Whites, Blacks, Hispanics, 
low-income and special education students--must show scholastic 
improvement, or the school must score in the top 10 percent on State 
achievement tests. This is a well deserved honor for Long Neck 
Elementary School, attesting to years of tireless commitment that this 
school, as well as the First State, brings to educating our youth. It 
is also the fourth elementary school from the Indian River School 
District to receive this national recognition, a remarkable 
accomplishment for any school district.
  It is not surprising that such an award is bestowed upon a school 
committed to the philosophy that all students can achieve academic 
success. The teachers and staff at Long Neck Elementary, led by 
Principal Charlynne Hopkins, are steadfast in their schoolwide goal 
that all students are expected to meet Delaware's academic standards. 
Furthermore, Long Neck Elementary is dedicated to encouraging students 
to not only meet these standards but to exceed them regardless of their 
limitations.
  Long Neck Elementary School is located in the rural town of 
Millsboro, DE. The school is composed of a large percentage of students 
from low socio-economic backgrounds. Over half of the school's 522 
students receive free or reduced-price lunches. Long Neck Elementary 
houses a diverse population of students from prekindergarten to the 
fifth grade. The racially diverse student body includes students from 
all ethnic backgrounds, including African American, Hispanic, and 
American Indian. In addition, Long Neck Elementary has an academically 
diverse student population. The school offers an EXCEL program for high 
achieving students as well as an intensive learning center and other 
special education services for struggling learners. It is by combining 
the efforts of the entire school family that the needs of students at 
Long Neck Elementary are met and exceeded.
  At Long Neck Elementary, the school family consists of parents, 
teachers, support staff and community members, all working together 
collaboratively for the benefit and growth of its students. An active 
and continually growing parent teacher organization there works to 
enable parents to support their school and their children. In addition, 
parents and community members partner with the school through its 
Creative Mentoring program, classroom volunteer opportunities, an

[[Page S11418]]

``adopt a class'' program, and a weekly career corner on the Long Neck 
Elementary School's televised news program. Lastly, the school 
improvement committee, which consists of staff, parents, and community 
members, identifies and allocates resources to enhance achievement for 
all students.
  At Long Neck Elementary, students are not only challenged 
academically. They are also expected to demonstrate model behavior. 
Good citizenship is reinforced through a character education program 
where students are honored monthly with certificates and medals for 
demonstrating the six pillars of good character which promotes making 
positive choices and becoming a productive member of society.
  No school could achieve the gains and progress Long Neck Elementary 
has met without having a staff that believes every child can learn and 
who are committed to providing students opportunities to reach their 
fullest potential. Long Neck Elementary has implemented professional 
learning communities where teachers work closely together, both within 
and across grade levels, to promote learning. All members of the staff 
assist students in improving their academic performances, increasing 
the likelihood that they will find success through their school years 
and go on to become productive and active members of society. This is 
done through after school programs, differentiated instruction, and 
extra support programs. In addition, instructional staff members 
participate in numerous learning-focused professional development 
activities, which enable them to provide students with instructional 
strategies that are sound and research-based.
  Tirelessness of staff and parents at Long Neck Elementary have made 
possible real progress in closing that school's achievement gap. Along 
with the National Blue Ribbon Schools Award, the school also earned 
``Superior'' rating from the State of Delaware in 2003, 2004, and 2005. 
Long Neck Elementary School is a school that demonstrates that all 
students can learn. The school's selection as a national blue ribbon 
school is a testament to their hard work and dedication.
  Delaware is a small State, but we are building a growing record of 
achievement in public school education. Helping lead the way are the 
students at Long Neck Elementary School, along with their teachers and 
parents. Collectively, they are truly an inspiration to other schools 
and communities in Delaware and throughout our Nation.

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