Blue Ribbon Schools program’s abrupt end leaves local schools disappointed

As blue confetti rained down last November, about 500 Porter Lakes Elementary students and teachers celebrated its first National Blue Ribbon School honor for high academic achievement.

A similar scene played out in Munster as students and staff at St. Thomas More rejoiced in the same honor.

The two schools were Northwest Indiana’s only Blue Ribbon recipients last year.

They may be the last.

The Trump administration ended the program without warning last month after nominations had already been submitted as it downsizes its role in education, saying it’s better handled by the states.

Established in 1982 under President Ronald Reagan, the program recognizes high-performing schools and schools that narrowed academic gaps between student groups.

State education leaders received notifica