Michigan Recognizes School Excellence

Each year, the Michigan State Board of Education recognizes outstanding public schools that achieve high academic standards. Blue Ribbon Exemplary Schools award winners offer instructional programs that meet the highest academic standards, have supportive and learning-centered school environments, and demonstrate student outcome results significantly above average or improved over time. The quality of each school is judged by the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) Office of School Improvement (OSI) against the Blue Ribbon Exemplary Schools criteria. The MDE looks at schools to see how well they meet their own school improvement goals and how well they serve students, families, and the local community. Additionally, for a school to be judged worthy of Blue Ribbon recognition, it must show significant progress in meeting state education goals. Program criteria are based on current research, state education reform goals, and the expert opinions of practitioners.

Established in 1982, the Michigan Blue Ribbon Exemplary Schools program:

1. Identifies and gives public recognition to outstanding public and private schools that achieve high academic
   standards or have shown significant academic improvement over five years.
2. Offers a comprehensive framework of key criteria for school effectiveness that can serve as a basis for schools to assess themselves and develop school improvement plans.
3. Facilitates communication and sharing of best educational practices within and among schools based on a common understanding of the criteria related to success.

Blue Ribbon Exemplary Schools exhibit a strong commitment to educational excellence for all students. To meet nomination criteria, schools must show success in furthering the intellectual, social, moral, and physical growth of all students. In seeking successful schools, the MDE program welcomes both schools that can demonstrate sustained success in educational excellence and schools that have demonstrated significant progress toward achieving educational excellence.

To download an application or review the Blue Ribbon criteria and learn more about 2004-05 award winners, visit www.michigan.gov/mde or contact: Linda Forward, Michigan Department of Education, Office of School Improvement, P.O. Box 30008, Lansing, MI 48909, (517) 373-4213, forwardl@michigan.gov.

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