{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://casten.house.gov/media/press-releases/casten-durbin-duckworth-introduce-resolution-honoring-illinois-blue-ribbon-schools-after-trump-administration-ends-program", "Casten, Durbin, Duckworth Introduce Resolution Honoring Illinois\u2019 Blue Ribbon Schools After Trump Administration Ends Program", "2025-12-18", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "IL", "Sean Casten", "C001117", "casten.house.gov", "casten", "https://casten.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. (December 18, 2025) \u2014 After the Trump Administration ended the Blue Ribbon Schools Program, U.S. Representative Sean Casten (D-IL-06), U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today introduced a resolution to recognize the 28 Illinois schools that were selected to receive the designation of Blue Ribbon Schools this year. The Blue Ribbon Schools Program was a national recognition from the U.S. Department of Education given to public, charter, and private schools for their exemplary education and work to close the achievement gap.\n\n\u201cIllinois\u2019 Blue Ribbon Schools represent the very best of our state\u2019s education system,\u201d said Rep. Casten. \u201cTeachers, administrators, and students work tirelessly to earn this distinction, which recognizes a sustained commitment to academic excellence. Although the Trump Administration needlessly ended the program, Congress can and should continue to honor deserving institutions. I am proud to introduce this resolution with Senators Durbin and Duckworth to ensure their achievements receive the recognition they\u2019ve earned.\u201d\n\n\u201cRather than continue our nation\u2019s tradition of celebrating schools that have dedicated themselves to closing the achievement gap, the Trump Administration has focused its energy on closing the Department of Education at the detriment of our nation\u2019s students and their education. While the Trump Administration will not recognize the hard work of educators, I am proud to celebrate the achievements of Illinois schools who earned the title of being a Blue Ribbon School,\u201d said Sen. Durbin. \u201cMy resolution with Senator Duckworth and Congressman Casten gives these schools \u2013 and the educators, faculty, and staff that run them \u2013 the recognition they deserve.\u201d\n\n\u201cOur state and our nation are stronger when we invest in our schools and support our teachers,\u201d Sen. Duckworth said. \u201cI\u2019m proud to recognize this year\u2019s National Blue Ribbon Schools across Illinois and their efforts to help students thrive inside and outside the classroom. I will continue to work alongside Senator Durbin to ensure that all students\u2014no matter their zip code\u2014have the opportunity to grow and thrive.\u201d\n\nCreated in 1982 by the Reagan Administration, the Blue Ribbon Schools Program was the highest federal recognition a school could receive. The program showcased the best teaching practices of educators and encouraged other schools to model them. Since its inception, the program has honored more than 9,000 public, private, charter, and parochial schools nationwide.\n\nJoining Casten, Durbin, and Duckworth in introducing the resolution are U.S. Representatives Nikki Budzinski (D-IL-13), Danny Davis (D-IL-07), Bill Foster (D-IL-11), Johnathan Jackson (D-IL-01), Robin Kelly (D-IL-02), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL-08), Mike Quigley (D-IL-05), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL-09), Brad Schneider (D-IL-10), and Lauren Underwood (D-IL-14).\n\nFull text of the resolution is available here.\n\nIllinois schools that were selected for the 2025 Blue Ribbon Schools designation prior to the discontinuation of the program are:\n\nAscension Catholic School \u2013 Oak Park, Illinois\n\nClarendon Hills Middle School \u2013 Clarendon Hills, Illinois\n\nGlen Oaks Elementary School \u2013 Hickory Hills, Illinois\n\nHighlands Elementary School \u2013 La Grange, Illinois\n\nKennedy Junior High School \u2013 Lisle, Illinois\n\nLiberty Intermediate School \u2013 Bourbonnais, Illinois\n\nLincoln-Way East High School \u2013 Frankfort, Illinois\n\nLyons Township High School \u2013 La Grange, Illinois\n\nMascoutah Middle School \u2013 Mascoutah, Illinois\n\nOur Lady of Mount Carmel Academy \u2013 Chicago, Illinois\n\nPleasantdale Middle School \u2013 Burr Ridge, Illinois\n\nPrescott Elementary School \u2013 Chicago, Illinois\n\nRegina Dominican High School \u2013 Wilmette, Illinois\n\nSarah Adams Elementary School \u2013 Lake Zurich, Illinois\n\nSt. Anne Catholic School \u2013 Barrington, Illinois\n\nSt. Giles School \u2013 Oak Park, Illinois\n\nSt. John of the Cross Parish School \u2013 Western Springs, Illinois\n\nSt. Matthias School \u2013 Chicago, Illinois\n\nSt. Norbert School \u2013 Northbrook, Illinois\n\nSt. Therese Chinese Catholic School \u2013 Chicago, Illinois\n\nSunset Ridge Elementary School \u2013 Northfield, Illinois\n\nThe Academy at St. Joan of Arc \u2013 Evanston, Illinois\n\nTimothy Christian P\u20138 \u2013 Elmhurst, Illinois\n\nWalker Elementary School \u2013 Clarendon Hills, Illinois\n\nWarren Elementary School \u2013 Warren, Illinois\n\nWheaton Academy \u2013 West Chicago, Illinois\n\nWilliam Fremd High School \u2013 Palatine, Illinois\n\nWoodlands Academy of the Sacred Heart \u2013 Lake Forest, Illinois\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://casten.house.gov/media/press-releases/casten-durbin-duckworth-introduce-resolution-honoring-illinois-blue-ribbon-schools-after-trump-administration-ends-program"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.8189408108592033, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}