News in Brief: A Washington Roundup

U.S. Secretary of Education Rod Paige announced 172 winners of the Blue Ribbon Schools awards last week, and promised to provide more details soon about possible changes to the program.

This year's winners are secondary schools from 35 states, including 145 public, 27 private, and two Department of Defense schools, said David Thomas, a spokesman for the program.

Discussions are under way in the Department of Education about whether to change the program's name, the criteria for winners, and the selection process for Blue Ribbon Schools. ( "Ed. Dept. Weighs Changing Blue Ribbon Program," ...