8 Rhode Island schools, 4 in Johnston, named National Banner Unified Champion Schools by Special Olympics

A National Banner Unified Champion School is one that has demonstrated commitment to inclusion by meeting 10 standards of excellence. These standards were developed by a national panel of leaders from Special Olympics and the education community.

The primary activities within these standards include: Special Olympics Unified Sports® (where students with and without disabilities train and compete as teammates), inclusive youth leadership and whole school engagement.

Banner Unified Champion Schools also are able to demonstrate they are self-sustainable or
have a plan in place to sustain these activities into the future.

Special Olympics is proud to recognize 205 schools in the 2023 Class of National Banner Unified Champion Schools. Of the 205 schools, 8 are in Rhode Island – 4 of those are in Johnston.

In New England 5 schools are in Connecticut – 22 are in Massachusetts – 5 are in Maine – 3 are in New Hampshire – 8 in Rhode Island – and 1 in Vermont.

The Rhode Island schools are:

Johnston – Nicholas A. Ferri Middle School
Johnston – Johnston Senior High School
Johnston – Brown Avenue Elementary School
Johnston – Sarah Dyer Barns Elementary School
Harrisville – Burrillville High School

Smithfield – Pleasant View Elementary School
Coventry – Hopkins Hill Elementary School
Westerly Dunn’s Corners Elementary School