Overview
The State Superintendent of Public Instruction may nominate
up to 35 schools annually for the U.S. Department of Education's (ED's) No Child Left Behind (NCLB)-Blue Ribbon Schools Program. Schools must show high achievement or dramatic academic growth. At least one-third of the schools must have a student body comprised of 40 percent or more disadvantaged students.
Recruitment Sources
Schools are recruited from the following:
- California School Recognition Program (CSRP) 2008 Distinguished Schools and 2008 Title I Academic Achievement Award Schools
- CSRP 2008 Honorable Mention Schools
- CSRP 2007 Distinguished Schools
- CSRP 2007 Honorable Mention Schools
- Schools eligible for the CSRP 2008 Distinguished School award, but did not apply
- Schools eligible for the CSRP 2007 Distinguished School award, but did not apply
Nomination Criteria
Nominated schools must:
- Meet 2007 and 2008 Academic Performance Index (API) schoolwide and subgroup growth targets.
- Meet all Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) criteria in both 2007 and 2008.
- Must place in one of the following two categories based on student growth in English-language arts (ELA) and mathematics, as measured by the California Standards Tests:
- For schools with at least 40 percent disadvantaged students, the percentage scoring at or above the proficient level ranks the school at or above the 60th percentile when compared to other schools in the state; or
- For all other schools, the percentage scoring at or above the proficient level ranks the school at or above the 90th percentile when compared to other schools in the state.
- Show increases in student proficiency in the highest grade tested over five years in both ELA and mathematics or have maintained at least 85 percent of the students proficient in ELA and mathematics.
The private school nomination process is coordinated by the Council for American Private Education [http://www.capenet.org/] (Outside Source).
Selection Criteria
Nominated schools will submit an application to the ED in February 2009. Growth and achievement in ELA and mathematics over five years is critical to the review criteria. The schools will also be required to meet all AYP criteria and API schoolwide and subgroup growth targets in 2009.
Schools that meet these final requirements will be selected as NCLB-Blue Ribbon Schools. They will be honored at a ceremony in Washington, D.C. in the fall of 2009.
