The Department of Education’s popular National Blue Ribbon Schools program will likely continue to exist in its current form for about another year. However, President Bush has proposed significant changes to the program. His "No Child Left Behind" education plan calls for the Blue Ribbon program to be transformed into a reward system for schools that have made progress in narrowing the achievement gap between students of different races and ethnic groups. According to Lindsey Kozberg, the chief spokeswoman for Secretary of Education Rod Paige, there will be a different recognition program in place in the future.
Despite the proposed changes, Congress still has the opportunity to save the Blue Ribbon program, which recently recognized 264 elementary schools. The program operates with a budget of approximately $1 million per year. Under the current rules, middle and high schools may also apply to become Blue Ribbon winners next year, with the application period potentially opening in November. Various education groups, including the National Association of Secondary School Principals, have written letters urging the administration to preserve the program as it is currently structured. However, the administration aims to align any federal reward program more closely with President Bush’s education plan and the soon-to-be reauthorized Elementary and Secondary Education Act. Sandy Kress, a White House education adviser, suggests that an entirely new system of rewards for schools could be implemented under the reauthorized ESEA, with specific details to be determined by the secretary of education.
The future of the traditional White House ceremony honoring the Blue Ribbon winners remains uncertain, according to Ms. Kozberg. However, plans for some type of awards ceremony are in place.
Historically, the Blue Ribbon program, established in 1983 during the Reagan administration, has faced scrutiny on multiple occasions. It experienced a budget cut in 1992, but then-Secretary of Education Lamar Alexander found a way to continue funding it. Notably, many schools have won the Blue Ribbon award despite significant academic issues. A report from the Brookings Institution, a Washington think tank, criticized the program last year, suggesting that schools should not be allowed to nominate themselves and that the awards should be more closely tied to student achievement. Tom Loveless, a scholar affiliated with Brookings, emphasizes that good schools are those that effectively teach students what they need to know, rather than those that focus on bells and whistles. Loveless also points out that some California schools that have received Blue Ribbon recognition only have test scores slightly above the state average. Supporters of the program argue that it has been thoroughly tested and continuously reviewed over time.
Evelyn Ogden, the deputy superintendent of the East Brunswick, N.J. schools and a veteran member of the Blue Ribbon selection panel, states that the program currently adheres to strict standards and emphasizes assessment. However, she is uncertain about the direction the Bush administration wants to take it. Ogden mentions that the program has been aligned with the standards movement and has been embraced by some districts as a school improvement model. J. Robert Hendricks, a former superintendent and a member of the Blue Ribbon selection panel, agrees that there may be room for change but cautions against rushing into any modifications. Hendricks, the lead author and editor of an upcoming book on the Blue Ribbon program, conducted research on the educational practices of Blue Ribbon winners. He believes that if the program were to shift its focus to student achievement, it should consider a wide range of data points, rather than relying solely on a few test scores. Hendricks also suggests that the program should retain its name due to its widespread recognition. Kimberly Edwards, the state director of Blue Ribbon schools in California, acknowledges that there is room for improvement in the criteria used to select winners, but highlights that the program has successfully recognized schools serving low-income students.
In conclusion, while the future of the National Blue Ribbon Schools program remains uncertain, President Bush’s proposed changes aim to align the program with his education plan. Congress has the opportunity to intervene and potentially save the program, but the administration is seeking a closer alignment with the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. The debate around the Blue Ribbon program largely revolves around the criteria for selecting winners and whether the focus should be on a broader set of data or solely on test scores. Despite the criticism and proposed changes, there are supporters who argue that the program has stood the test of time and provides recognition to deserving schools.