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SACRAMENTO — State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell today announced that 171 California middle and high schools have been selected as 2007 California Distinguished Schools, an annual award that recognizes some of the state's most exemplary public schools.

The list of 76 middle schools and 95 high schools may be accessed online at Distinguished School Awards - California School Recognition Program.

"These middle and high schools have shown they are able to meet the challenge of providing their students with the kind of rigorous education that is essential to their future success in the classroom and the workplace," said O’Connell.

O’Connell called each school’s principal this morning to personally share the good news. "They were overjoyed to hear that their commitment to their students has been recognized with this prestigious award," he said. "These middle and high schools are truly extraordinary places with devoted teachers, dedicated staff, and motivated principals."

Three Distinguished high schools will also receive an Exemplary Career Technical Education Program Award. This "special emphasis" honor is given to schools that offer exemplary career technical education programs that meet local and regional needs and that provide a firm foundation of career programs and services in which all students can participate.

"California is moving forward in creating significant, real-world programs that offer students the kind of academic and technical skills that will allow them to adapt to a constantly changing work environment and employment demands," O’Connell said.

This year, the selected middle and high schools represent about 7 percent of California’s nearly 2,400 middle and high schools. Of those, only 478 schools met the eligibility criteria based on their student achievement. Of these, 279 schools chose to submit an application, describing in-depth their curriculum, instructional program, supports for students, and school climate. Applications underwent an intensive evaluation process conducted by the California Department of Education in partnership with the California County Superintendents Educational Services Association, and with the help of many local educators from across the state. Finally, all nominee schools were reviewed during a site validation conducted by a team of external educators.

Chosen from 132 school districts in 35 counties, these outstanding middle and high schools will continue to be designated as a California Distinguished School until 2011.

O’Connell also praised California’s 35 nominees for the national 2007 No Child Left Behind–Blue Ribbon Schools Program. These schools will be honored along with the 2007 California Distinguished Schools on Friday, May 18 at an awards ceremony and dinner at the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim. The Disneyland Resort is a major corporate sponsor of the event.  

For more information about the California School Recognition Program, please visit California School Recognition Program.

The Awards Ceremony is funded by generous contributions from corporate, foundation, and association donations, as well as the attending schools’ registration fees. The list of donors is attached.

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Attachment

List of Donors to 2007 California Distinguished School Awards Ceremony

Visionary ($15,000)

Belkin Corporation
California Teachers Association
The Disneyland Resort
Washington Mutual
Wells Fargo

Champion ($10,000)

California State Lottery

Benefactor ($5,000)

Apple
AT&T
The Boeing Company

Associate ($2,500)

Bank of America Foundation
California Conservatory of the Arts
California School Employees Association
California’s Coalition for Adequate School Housing
GTECH
Microsoft
Pepsi
WestEd

Supporter ($1,000)

Anaheim/Orange County Visitor and Convention Bureau
Association of California School Administrators
California Association of School Business Officials
California County Superintendents Educational Services Association
California School Boards Association
California State PTA
Chevron
IBM
The J. Paul Getty Trust
Lucasfilm Ltd.
Sun Microsystems, Inc.
Toshiba America Electronic Components, Inc.