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Education Commissioner John B. King, Jr. announced today that New York State has nominated three schools to the U.S. Department of Education (US ED) Green Ribbon Schools program.Ìý The three nominees are:

Hampton Bays Middle School, Hampton Bays, NY
Sleepy Hollow Middle School, Sleepy Hollow, NY
Bethlehem Central Middle School, Delmar, NY

New York received a total of twenty-six applications, including twelve from New York City public schools and two from non-public schools.Ìý King noted that while only three schools could be nominated, three others turned in notable applications:

PS 57 Hubert Humphrey Elementary School, Staten Island, NY
Anne Hutchinson Elementary School, Eastchester, NY
PS 041 Elementary School, New York, NY

The US ED Green Ribbon Schools program recognizes schools that save energy, reduce costs, feature environmentally sustainable learning spaces, protect health, foster wellness, and offer environmental education to boost academic achievement and community engagement.Ìý The recognition award is part of a larger effort to identify and disseminate knowledge about practices proven to result in improved student engagement, academic achievement, graduation rates, and workforce preparedness, as well as a government-wide aim to increase energy independence and economic security.

Winners of the inaugural US Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools competition will be announced by Education Secretary Arne Duncan on Monday, April 23rd, the day after Earth Day.