Schools across the nation show improvement under No Child Left Behind which helps insure all children are learning.

     Kit Carson R-1 Elementary School in Kit Carson, Colo., has been named a No Child Left Behind Blue Ribbon School of 2004, U.S. Secretary of Education Rod Paige announced.

     "For years, any of our underprivileged children were ignored and prejudged, moved to the back of the room and quietly pushed through the system, with their scores hidden in averages," Secretary Paige said. "They were cast out into life without the skills to succeed. This created a chronic achievement gap that mocked the promise of public education. So we must change our approach, incentives and expectations. We must foster a climate of academic excellence, enabling all students to reach the highest levels of scholarships.

     "No Child Left Behind is starting to generate some amazing results, transforming the educational landscape. Today, I am pleased to announce that you have been named a No Child Left Behind Blue Ribbon School, and I congratulate you for your achievements."

     The No Child Left Behind Blue Ribbon Schools program recognizes schools that make significant progress in closing the achievement gap or whose students achieve at very high levels. More than 250 of the nation's schools have been named No Child Left Behind Blue Ribbon Schools.

     The schools are selected based on one of three criteria:

• Schools with at least 40 percent of their students from disadvantaged backgrounds that dramatically improve student performance on state tests, as determined by the state school chief.
• Schools whose students, regardless of background, achieve in the top 10 percent on state tests.
• Private schools that achieve in the top 10 percent in the nation.
  

     Under No Child Left Behind, schools must meet "Adequate Yearly Progress," or AYP, in reading/language arts and mathematics. Each state sets its own academic standards and benchmark goals-not the federal government because each state knows best what goals and criteria are most appropriate for its school districts.

     The No Child Left Behind Act is the bipartisan landmark education reform law designed to change the culture of America's schools by closing the achievement gap, offering more flexibility to states, giving parents more options and teaching students based on what works. Under the law's strong accountability provisions, states must describe how they will show the achievement gap and make sure all students, including those with disabilities, achieve academically.