TOPEKA — The Confidence in Kansas Public Education Task Force has named 91 schools as recipients of the 2022 Challenge Awards. Several area schools were among those honored.

Area schools receiving a 2022 Challenge Award are:

• Park Elementary School, Great Bend USD 428.

• Riley Elementary School, Great Bend USD 428.

• Macksville Elementary School, Macksville USD 351.

• Central Elementary School, Lyons USD 405.

• Lyons Middle School, Lyons USD 405.

The awards recognize Kansas schools making a notable difference in student achievement despite facing significant challenges in their school population. Since its inception in 2002, more than 1,800 awards have been presented to schools across the state. 

Certificates of Merit were presented to schools receiving the awards. 

The Challenge Award recognizes schools for outstanding achievement and uncommon accomplishments based on Kansas Assessment results in math and reading, graduation rates, chronic absenteeism rates and the socio-economic status of those taking the test.

The Confidence in Public Education Task Force is a nonprofit corporation whose primary purpose is to strengthen confidence in Kansas public education and to increase awareness of the positive aspects of public education in the state. The Task Force was created in 1981. 

Members of the Task Force include American Association of University Women; Kansas PTA; Kansas Association of School Boards (KASB); Kansas National Education Association (KNEA); Kansas State Board of Education; Kansas State High School Activities Association (KSHAA); Kansas Partners in Education; League of Women Voters – Kansas; and United School Administrators of Kansas (USA-Kansas).