[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 11]
[Senate]
[Page 15705]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




             RECOGNIZING JACKSON TOWNSHIP ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

  Mr. DONNELLY. Mr. President, today I applaud Jackson Township 
Elementary School of Brazil, IN for being recognized as a 2014 National 
Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education.
  Established in 1982, the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program has 
recognized over 7,000 public and non-public schools that demonstrate a 
vision of educational excellence for all students, regardless of their 
social or economic background. Since its inception, this program has 
offered the opportunity for schools in every State to gain recognition 
for educational accomplishments in closing the achievement gaps among 
student groups.
  Recognition as a National Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department 
of Education is based on a school either being measured as an Exemplary 
High Performing School, where schools are among the State's highest 
scorers in English and mathematics, or as an Exemplary Achievement Gap 
Closing School, where schools with at least 40 percent of their student 
body coming from disadvantaged backgrounds have reduced the achievement 
gap in English and mathematics within the last 5 years. Jackson 
Township Elementary School has made great strides in the area of 
improved proficiency in both English and mathematics.
  In 2014 alone, Jackson Township Elementary School's combined ISTEP+ 
passing rate for English and mathematics was around 96 percent for 
third through fifth grades. Jackson Township Elementary School's 
effectiveness can be found in its Character Education program. In this 
program, students are familiarized with positive characteristics that 
are connected to character development introduced first in the home 
environment. Jackson Township Elementary School affirms that every 
student's success is directly related to family and community support. 
With over 40 percent of its students identified as economically 
disadvantaged in a primarily rural farming town, Jackson Township 
Elementary School is seen as a beacon of light for the development of 
Indiana's youth.
  I would like to acknowledge Jackson Township Elementary School 
Principal Bradford C. Ennen, the entire staff, and the student body. It 
undoubtedly took hard work and dedication to achieve this prestigious 
award.
  On behalf of the citizens of Indiana, I congratulate Jackson Township 
Elementary School, and I wish the students and staff continued success 
in the future.

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