Coral Shores, Key Largo added to list of Special Olympic Banner Schools in Monroe County

Add Coral Shores High and Key Largo School to the list of Monroe County institutions that have been honored with the recognition of being a Special Olympic National Banner School, bringing the total to seven distinguished schools in the Keys.

To be honored as a Special Olympics Unified Champion School, it must demonstrate a commitment to inclusion by meeting 10 standards of excellence and receive national banner recognition. A Special Olympics Unified Champion School has an inclusive school climate and exudes a sense of collaboration, engagement, and respect for all members of the student body and staff. A Unified Champion School receiving national banner recognition is one that has demonstrated commitment to inclusion by meeting 10 national standards of excellence. These standards were developed by a national panel of leaders from Special Olympics and the education community.

The expectation of this recognition is that the 10 standards are continuously being met, year after year. To ensure this sustainability, schools reapply for banner status every four years.

“That means each school has had seven or more years of building an inclusive school culture while giving opportunities for Unified Sports, youth leadership, and engaging the entire school campus, such as today,” said Ruth Coleman, who is the Special Olympics Florida, Manager, Sports Training and Competition, for Monroe County. “The school staff and students have gone so far and beyond with their programming and meeting 10 national standards of excellence, that they’ve won the honor of becoming a National Banner school. A Banner Reveal ceremony will be planned at each school later in the year.”