Awards & Recognitions
Awards honoring exemplary students, teachers, classified employees and schools for achievement and for advancing excellence in education. The awards are listed in chronological order by application deadline throughout the school year.
Foundation Innovation Awards
Each year, the Foundation @ FCOE awards one Innovation Grant per school district for an innovative project or program that promotes student development and achievement.
- Application Open: August, 1, 2025
- Application Close: September 12, 2025 at 3:00 p.m.
- Winner Announced: September 23, 2025
Schools to Watch
An award for high-performing model middle schools that are academically engaging, developmentally sensitive, socially equitable and have a culture of collaborative leadership.
- Application Open: April 3, 2024
- Application Close: October 1, 2025
- Winner Announced: To be determined.
California Green Ribbon Schools Program
Honors schools and school districts for excellence in whole-school sustainability: Reduced environmental impact and cost; improved health and wellness; and exemplary environmental education, including STEM, civic skills, and green career pathways.
- Application Open: June 2025
- Application Close: November 17, 2025 at 12:00 P.M. PST
- Winner Announced: To be Determined.
California Exemplary Arts Education Award
Recognizes some of California’s exemplary schools for excellence in Arts Education. Schools selected for the Exemplary Arts Education Award demonstrate broad-based achievement in Arts instruction and for advancing the Arts for all students.
- Application Open: May 1, 2025
- Application Close: December 21, 2025
- Winner Announced: March 2026
California Distinguished Schools Programs
Established by the California Department of Education, the California Distinguished Schools Program recognizes schools that demonstrate exemplary achievements.
- Application Open: No application required. Schools will be notified if eligible Fall 2025.
- Application Close: No application required.
- Winner Announced: April 24, 2026
Fresno County Educator of the Year Awards
Each year the Office of the Fresno County Superintendent of Schools proudly recognizes the outstanding achievements of Fresno County teachers, school administrators and school employees.
- Application Open: January 2026
- Application Close: March 2026
- Winner Announced: November 2026
Civic Learning Award
Co-sponsored by the State Superintendent of Public Instruction and the California Chief Justice in partnership with the California Department of Education, the Civic Learning Award recognizes and values the important role of public schools in preparing students for participation in our democracy.
- Application Open: Last week of February 2026
- Application Close: March 31, 2026
- Winner Announced: May 1, 2026
PBIS Statewide Recognition
California PBIS launched a statewide recognition system in 2015 to honor schools that implement PBIS with fidelity. Schools can earn Bronze, Silver, Gold, or Platinum status, reflecting their commitment to students, families, and communities across California.
- Application Open: January 2026
- Application Close: May 2026
- Winner Announced: September 2026
Golden Bell
The California School Boards Association’s Golden Bell Awards promotes excellence in education and school board governance by recognizing outstanding programs and governance practices of school boards in districts and county offices of education throughout California.
- Application Open: To be determined.
- Application Close: June 27, 2026
- Winner Announced: October 2026
Thriving School Award
The Thriving School Award recognizes K-12 schools for their efforts in implementing and promoting social-emotional learning (SEL) amongst students, communities, and policymakers.
- Application Open: May 5, 2026
- Application Close: June 30, 2026
- Winner Announced: To be determined.
California Teachers of the Year
The California Teachers of the Year Program honors outstanding educators who inspire student success, close achievement gaps, and showcase the positive impact of teaching in California's schools.
- Application Open: February/March 2026
- Application Close: July 9, 2026
- Winner Announced: October 2026
National Blue Ribbons Schools
The National Blue Ribbon Schools Program honors public and private elementary, middle, and high schools for their overall academic excellence or their progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups. Schools are recognized in two categories: Exemplary High Performing Schools, among the highest-achieving in their state, and Exemplary Achievement Gap Closing Schools, which have made notable gains in narrowing achievement gaps.
- Application Open: 2026 Application Date to be Determined
- Application Close: 2026 Application Date to be Determined
- Winner Announced: To be determined.
Seal of Biliteracy
The Seal of Biliteracy is an award given by a school, district or state in recognition of students who have studied and attained proficiency in two or more languages by high school graduation.
- Application Open: To be determined.
- Application Close: To be determined.
- Winner Announced: To be determined.
California Exemplary Dual-Enrollment Award
Recognizes schools for their exemplary dual-enrollment programming that provides opportunities to enroll in and earn college credits while in high school. Schools selected for this award demonstrate quality, equity driven dual-enrollment programs.
- Application Open: To be determined.
- Application Close: To be determined.
- Winner Announced: To be determined.
Golden State Seal Merit Diploma
To be eligible for the Golden State Seal Merit Diploma, students must be receiving a high school diploma from their district and have earned designated results on six qualifying examinations.
- Application Open: Open Application
- Application Close: No deadline
- Winner Announced: Yearly Announcement
Model Community Day School Recognition Program
Identifies and recognizes outstanding community day school programs and creates a resource list of exemplary programs for school visitations and mentoring.
- Application Open: To be determined.
- Application Close: To be determined.
- Winner Announced: To be determined.
Model Continuation High School Recognition Program
Recognizing exceptional continuation high schools for their comprehensive programs and shares a list of model schools for visitation.
- Application Open: To be determined.
- Application Close: To be determined.
- Winner Announced: To be determined.
CA Purple Star Schools
Recognizing the crucial support public schools offer to military-connected students and their families.
- Application Open: September 2025
- Application Close: To be determined.
- Winner Announced: To be determined.
Model School Attendance Review Board (SARB)
Recognizing the crucial support public schools offer to military-connected students and their families.
- Application Open: To be determined.
- Application Close: To be determined.
- Winner Announced: To be determined.
