[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 16]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 21692]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




CONGRATULATING COCOA BEACH HIGH SCHOOL AND RALPH M. WILLIAMS ELEMENTARY 
        SCHOOL FOR BEING DESIGNATED AS 2009 BLUE RIBBON SCHOOLS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BILL POSEY

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 15, 2009

  Mr. POSEY. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to recognize and extend my 
congratulations to two schools in the 15th Congressional District of 
Florida that have been designated as 2009 Blue Ribbon Schools: Cocoa 
Beach High School and Ralph M. Williams Elementary School. I am honored 
to represent a district that is home to these schools that have 
achieved so much. These schools will serve as models for other schools 
throughout the country.
  The Blue Ribbon Schools Program commends public and private 
elementary, middle, and high schools that are either academically 
superior by scoring in the top 10 percent on state assessment tests or 
that demonstrate extraordinary gains in student achievement, 
specifically in students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
  Florida's success in the realm of education is nothing new. Florida's 
education system is frequently boasted as the best in the Nation. In a 
recent publication by the Heritage Foundation, Florida public education 
is described as ``remarkable.'' The paper goes on to say that, ``Over 
the past decade, National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP) 
reading scores for Florida fourth graders have soared nine percentage 
points--more than twice the national gain. Florida's eighth-grade 
reading gains were also almost double the national average. Math scores 
also registered solid gains, exceeding the national average . . . Most 
impressive has been the success of minorities. Scores among Florida's 
low-income black and Hispanic students have risen much faster than the 
national average. Hispanic fourth-graders in the Sunshine State now 
boast reading scores higher than the all-student average in 15 states, 
including California.'' These achievements are truly remarkable.
  I would also like to take a moment to thank the principals and 
teachers of these two fine schools. Your leadership and service have 
made these achievements possible. Most fundamentally, education is the 
province of parents, teachers, and local and state governments. This 
award demonstrates that the innovation and hard work of parents, 
teachers, local administrators, and the community as a whole can 
produce efficiency, accountability, and achievement in our Nation's 
schools. These two schools have served their students well and are 
effectively preparing them for the challenges awaiting them as adults 
through an effective education system.
  Madam Speaker and my colleagues, I ask that you join me in honoring 
the students, teachers, and administrators at Cocoa Beach High School 
and Ralph M. Williams Elementary School for their extraordinary 
accomplishments. They have made Florida's 15th Congressional District 
proud.

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