Applications Open for 2026 Illinois Governor’s Blue Ribbon Schools Program

SPRINGFIELD - The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE), in partnership with Governor JB Pritzker, today announced that applications are now open for the 2026 Illinois Governor's Blue Ribbon Schools program. The state-led initiative continues the long-standing tradition of recognizing schools that demonstrate academic excellence or make significant progress in closing achievement gaps.

After the U.S. Department of Education abruptly ended the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program in 2025, Illinois established the Governor's Blue Ribbon Schools program to ensure that the accomplishments of students, educators, and school communities continue to be honored.

"While the federal government abandoned the Blue Ribbon Schools program last year, my administration stepped up to ensure Illinois schools continue to receive the recognition they deserve," said Governor JB Pritzker. "Here in Illinois, we know that quality education sustains vibrant communities and robust economies, and we will always celebrate the critical role our schools play in Illinois' future. I encourage all eligible schools in Illinois to apply for this prestigious recognition of academic excellence and growth."

"When federal recognition ended, Illinois chose to lead," said State Superintendent Dr. Tony Sanders. "The Illinois Governor's Blue Ribbon Schools program reflects our unwavering commitment to educational excellence - especially for schools that are closing opportunity gaps while serving diverse student populations. These schools show us what focused leadership and data-driven practices can accomplish."

The Illinois Governor's Blue Ribbon Schools program builds on more than 40 years of recognition under the former national model and maintains rigorous standards for identifying top-performing schools across the state.

ISBE, in partnership with the Governor's Office, is administering the program through a new state-led application process that continues the tradition of honoring both public and nonpublic schools of excellence.

Eligible public schools have been invited to apply based on statewide data and the same criteria established under the former federal program.

Nonpublic schools are being engaged through a partnership between ISBE and the Illinois Coalition of Nonpublic Schools (ICNS). After the Council for American Private Education (CAPE) discontinued its role, Illinois worked with ICNS, the state's CAPE affiliate, to ensure nonpublic schools remain part of the program. ICNS is leading the statewide outreach effort and administering the nonpublic application process.

"We are grateful for the highly collaborative effort between the Governor's Office, ISBE, and ICNS to carry on this important tradition of recognizing those Illinois schools with a clear demonstration of excellence," said Matt Davidson, chairman of the ICNS board. "While many other states are still scrambling to put a program together, Illinois is leading the way to recognize the efforts and outcomes of hard-working teachers and students. It's the common goal of both public and nonpublic schools in our state to get our youth to a launching pad for success. This award acknowledges those schools that are distinctively accomplishing this."

Honorees will be announced in fall 2026.

Additional information, including how to access the nonpublic school application, is available on ISBE's Blue Ribbon Schools webpage ​.