[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 151 (Thursday, November 29, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1849]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   2012 NATIONAL BLUE RIBBON SCHOOLS

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                         HON. JOHN P. SARBANES

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 29, 2012

  Mr. SARBANES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to applaud the work of the 
269 schools that have been selected by the U.S. Department of Education 
as 2012 National Blue Ribbon Schools. This prestigious honor recognizes 
the schools' accomplishments in improving student academic achievement 
and in attaining overall academic excellence. I am proud to report that 
ten of these schools are in Maryland, having previously been selected 
as Maryland Blue Ribbon Schools on the basis of sustained high 
performance or significant improvement in reading and mathematics as 
measured by Maryland State Assessments. I am particularly proud of the 
accomplishments of the four National Blue Ribbon Schools--Crofton 
Meadows Elementary School, Woodholme Elementary School, St. Augustine 
School, and Saint Peter's School--that are currently or will soon be 
located in Maryland's 3rd District.
  The passage of No Child Left Behind in 2002 charged schools with 
additional responsibilities to measure and report academic progress. 
These new requirements set a high bar, requiring schools to demonstrate 
gains in student proficiency and improvements in closing the 
achievement gap. The National Blue Ribbon Schools exemplify the goals 
of No Child Left Behind, and serve as exemplars of how best to help 
children reach their highest potential. As we work toward a long-
overdue reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary School Act 
(ESEA), we must carefully review the successes of the National Blue 
Ribbon Schools to identify strategies and best practices that can be 
shared, and which other schools may benefit from examining and 
adopting. I look forward to continuing to support the work of the 
National Blue Ribbon awardees and all schools in Maryland, to ensure 
that they have the tools and resources they need to continue helping 
students excel.

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