State Superintendent Linda McCulloch Announces 2008 Blue Ribbon School Award Winner – Meadow Lark Elementary School in Great Falls

State Superintendent Linda McCulloch is pleased to announce that Meadow Lark Elementary School in Great Falls will receive the 2008 Blue Ribbon School award in Washington, D.C. on October 20-21, 2008.

"Meadow Lark Elementary School was nominated for this award because it has dramatically improved its student performance over the past three years," said Superintendent McCulloch. "I am proud of Meadow Lark and of every school in Montana for continuing to provide our students with a quality education."

The No Child Left Behind-Blue Ribbon Schools Program honors public and private schools that are academically superior, make significant progress in closing the achievement gap, or demonstrate dramatic gains on state achievement tests.

This year, 320 schools from 45 states will be recognized as 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;

* Schools whose students, regardless of background, achieve in the top 10 percent of their state on state tests;

* Private schools that achieve in the top 10 percent of the nation.

Meadow Lark Elementary School was nominated for meeting the criteria on the state criterion-referenced test (CRT) which assesses reading and math achievement. Montana students took the CRT for the first time in the spring of 2004.

"It is an honor to work with the staff, students and parents of this school," said Principal Kelly Maki. "Great Falls Public Schools is a fantastic school district, and this award represents the hard work and high expectations we all share."

The media is invited to attend the local celebration of this award at Meadow Lark Elementary School on October 30th from 6:30pm – 7:30pm.