H.Res. 961

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 961 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. RES. 961

Recognizing the schools selected as National Blue Ribbon Schools for 
2025 and celebrating the history of the Blue Ribbon Schools Program.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

December 18, 2025

Mr. Casten (for himself, Mr. Jackson of Illinois, Ms. Kelly of 
Illinois, Mr. Quigley, Mr. Davis of Illinois, Mr. Krishnamoorthi, Ms. 
Schakowsky, Mr. Schneider, Mr. Foster, Ms. Budzinski, Ms. Underwood, 
and Mr. Sorensen) submitted the following resolution; which was 
referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce

_______________________________________________________________________

RESOLUTION

Recognizing the schools selected as National Blue Ribbon Schools for 
2025 and celebrating the history of the Blue Ribbon Schools Program.

Whereas the Blue Ribbon Schools program was created by the Reagan Administration 
in 1982 to provide nationwide recognition of schools for academic 
excellence and progress in closing achievement gaps;
Whereas the Blue Ribbon Schools program has been considered the highest Federal 
honor for schools in the United States and has honored more than 9,000 
public (including charter) and private (including parochial) schools 
since its inception;
Whereas the Blue Ribbon Schools program validates the work of the educators of 
the United States, models the best teaching practices across the United 
States, and inspires schools to adopt similarly rigorous practices;
Whereas the Blue Ribbon Schools program plays an important role in uplifting 
best practices in closing achievement gaps, especially as the 2024 
National Assessment of Educational Progress, commonly referred to as the 
``Nation's Report Card'', showed that average reading and mathematics 
scores for high school seniors fell to their lowest levels in 2 decades;
Whereas the decision made August 29, 2025, by the Department of Education to 
discontinue the Blue Ribbon Schools program has eliminated a national 
spotlight on what works in education;
Whereas despite the decision by the Department of Education, States and 
communities continue the legacy of the Blue Ribbon Schools program by 
leading initiatives to recognize their own exemplary schools at the 
State and local level;
Whereas before the Department of Education discontinued the Blue Ribbon Schools 
program in 2025, the schools from the State of Illinois selected for the 
2025 Blue Ribbon Schools designation included--

(1) Ascension Catholic School;

(2) Clarendon Hills Middle School;

(3) Glen Oaks Elementary School;

(4) Highlands Elementary School;

(5) Kennedy Junior High School;

(6) Liberty Intermediate School;

(7) Lincoln-Way East High School;

(8) Lyons Township High School;

(9) Mascoutah Middle School;

(10) Our Lady of Mount Carmel Academy;

(11) Pleasantdale Middle School;

(12) Prescott Elementary School;

(13) Regina Dominican High School;

(14) Sarah Adams Elementary School;

(15) St. Anne Catholic School;

(16) St. Giles School;

(17) St. John of the Cross Parish School;

(18) St. Matthias School;

(19) St. Norbert School;

(20) St. Therese Chinese Catholic School;

(21) Sunset Ridge Elementary School;

(22) The Academy at St. Joan of Arc;

(23) Timothy Christian P-8;

(24) Walker Elementary School;

(25) Warren Elementary School;

(26) Wheaton Academy;

(27) William Fremd High School; and

(28) Woodlands Academy of the Sacred Heart; and

Whereas it is imperative that the House of Representatives honors the schools 
selected to be Blue Ribbon Schools in 2025 from every State and the 
legacy of the Blue Ribbon Schools program: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) recognizes and celebrates--
(A) the schools selected to be 2025 National Blue 
Ribbon Schools before the Blue Ribbon Schools program 
was discontinued; and
(B) the history of the Blue Ribbon Schools program;
(2) commends the educators, school administrators, and 
communities of such schools for their hard work that led to 
this achievement; and
(3) calls upon the Secretary of Education to immediately 
reinstate the Blue Ribbon Schools program.
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