Contact: Sandra Goya
Date: February 4, 2008


Aina Haina Elementary, Ala Wai Elementary, and Holualoa Elementary
are Hawaii’s Nominees for 2008 NCLB-Blue Ribbon School Program

Frito-Lay of Hawaii and Hawaii State Department of Education Honor Three Public Schools as 2007-08 Hawaii Blue Ribbon Schools - - Schools will Represent Hawaii in National Program

Aina Haina Elementary, Ala Wai Elementary, and Holualoa Elementary were named Hawaii's Distinguished Schools by the Hawaii State Department of Education on February 1. The three schools will represent Hawaii in the 2007-2008 national No Child Left Behind - Blue Ribbon Schools Program.

The schools were honored at the Hawaii Distinguished Schools Program awards ceremony at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Beach Resort & Spa. Frito-Lay of Hawaii and Aloha Airlines sponsor this event.

Other outstanding elementary and secondary schools for this program were: Aikahi Elementary, Aliamanu Elementary, Education Laboratory PCS, Haaheo Elementary, Innovations PCS, Jefferson Elementary, Kaimuki Middle, Kaiser High School, Kaumana Elementary, Koko Head Elementary, Lanikai Elementary PCS, Liliuokalani Elementary, Noelani Elementary, Paauilo Elementary and Intermediate, Pearl Harbor Kai Elementary, Salt Lake Elementary, Waialua Elementary, Wheeler Elementary and Wilson Elementary schools.

The Hawaii Distinguished Schools Program honors elementary and secondary schools that make significant progress in closing the achievement gap or whose students achieve at the highest levels. The three selected schools are Hawaii's nominees to the national No Child Left Behind - Blue Ribbon Schools Program. These schools have shown dramatic improvement in test scores to high levels or those that are achieving in the top 10 percent of schools in the state in both reading and mathematics. At least one-third of the schools must have 40 percent or more of their students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

The 2008 national winners of the No Child Left Behind - Blue Ribbon Schools will be announced in November 2008.

Last year, Moanalua Elementary, Kawananakoa Middle and Waikiki Elementary schools were named the 2006-2007 Hawaii Distinguished Schools by the Hawaii State Department of Education. In addition, Kawananakoa Middle and Waikiki Elementary schools were recognized as national No Child Left Behind - Blue Ribbon Schools.

Since 1988, 47 Hawaii public schools have been nominated to the national level of the Blue Ribbon Schools Program of which 32 were named National Blue Ribbon Schools.

The Hawaii Distinguished Schools Program is evaluated by a panel of judges on criteria based on academic accountability targets and acceptable growth in reading and mathematics as required by the No Child Left Behind Act.

Source contact: Lynette Lo Tom, Bright Light Marketing Group, (808) 584-6441.

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