The Boards of Distinction program invites your board/superintendent team to delve into the Washington School Board Standards and …

• Discuss how your board’s actions align with effective board governance practices.
• Document your focus on educational excellence and equity for all students.
• Identify how your board creates conditions for student and staff success.
• Share your commitment to continuous improvement and accountability.

Then, apply for the Boards of Distinction award. You may be honored for your successes. The board submitting the top rated application will be named WSSDA Board of the Year!

The 2010 program has been simplified and the application process is …

• Less time-consuming—less paperwork.
•  More focused.
• More equitable for districts of all sizes—small, medium and large.

WSSDA believes that even the highest performing board never “arrives.” The revised program provides a multi-year approach to demonstrating alignment with the Washington School Board Standards, focusing on five benchmarks per year. Review the essay schedule for the next five years and plan to apply annually.

Awards

Boards of Distinction applications must be completed as a collaborative effort of the board/superintendent team, and are rated using a point system.

• Each board which meets the criteria will receive recognition as a Board of Distinction.
• The board submitting the top-scoring application will receive the highest distinction as WSSDA Board of the Year.
• Boards receiving recognition for five consecutive years will be honored with a special achievement award.