How to Register
Use the registration link to create an account now for the Teaching and Learning Innovation Awards Program (Program) or read through the process in the Registration Instructions step-by-step guide.
Program Overview
The Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium is excited to announce the Teaching and Learning Innovation Awards. We welcome submissions that showcase innovative practices, strategies, methods, or interventions designed to enhance teaching and student outcomes. The Teaching and Learning Innovation Awards aim to:
- Highlight and promote innovative practices using Smarter Balanced resources;
- Inspire creative ideas for leveraging the Smarter Balanced Assessment System; and
- Increase awareness of the system's capacity to enhance teaching and learning goals.
Award Value
This award offers up to $10,000 to public school districts that reside in each one of the Smarter Balanced member jurisdictions (California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Michigan, Nevada, Oregon, South Dakota, U.S. Virgin Islands, Washington). Unused funds may be redistributed, and future awards may increase based on the program’s success.
Need the Application in Another Format?
If you would like to view the application as a PDF, here is the printer-friendly version. You can use this resource to see the application questions in advance and to make plans on how to address each task within the application. Please note that all applicants must submit their applications through the Awards Management System (AMS) — no other submission options will be supported.
Contact Us
Please email us at sb@smarterbalanced.org with any questions that you have about the Teaching and Learning Innovation Awards or about how to apply to the online application.
Promotional Events
Only a select number of awardees will be featured on Smarter Balanced media platforms, showcasing their replicable and scalable evidence-based practices. Promotional efforts may include, but are not limited to:
- Presence on the Smarter Balanced website
- Social media posts on LinkedIn
- Potential video featured on YouTube channel
- Press release
- Others TBD
Please note that there is no separate compensation for participation in the Smarter Balanced promotional events. However, these media platforms provide an opportunity to share and celebrate the awardees in an effort to ensure other districts are able to maximize their use of the Smarter Balanced resources in their local context.
Timeline
The application process will be managed exclusively through this online awards management system (AMS). The application is limited to the first 3,000 applications.
- Program Announced to Public: Late September
- Promotional Period: September – October
- Application Period: November 12, 2024 – February 2, 2025
- Application Stage 1 Deadline: January 5, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. PT
- Applicants must complete Steps 1-2 by this deadline to be considered for the award.
- Step 1-SB Innovation Awards Application Form
- Step 2-Letter of Intent (LOI) Cover Letter Upload
- Application Stage 2 Deadline: February 2, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. PT
- Applicants must complete Steps 3-9 by this deadline to be considered for the award.
- Step 3-Assurances and Certifications Form
- Step 4-Innovative Practice Priority Form
- Step 5-Local Context and Engagements Upload
- Step 6-Smarter Balanced System Innovative Practices and Strategies Upload
- Step 7-Implementation Approach Upload
- Step 8-Results and Findings Upload
- Step 9-Letter(s) of Reference Upload
- Review Committee Period (Application Evaluations): February – April
- Outreach to Awardees: April – June
- Public Media Release: July – October
Smarter Balanced has the discretion to adjust the timeline as necessary to reflect the needs of the program. Updates will be posted on the website, and applicants are encouraged to check back periodically to see if any changes have occurred. Note: the submission of questions does not constitute an implied extension to the posted timelines on this website. There will not be a date extension based on the submission of questions.
Disclaimer
The award is for already-implemented strategies, as applications require evidence of the effectiveness of the practice. A proposal that fails to follow the Teaching and Learning Innovation Awards - Scoring and Evaluation Rubric (Guidelines) may be considered unacceptable and ineligible for the award. Applicants should strictly follow the Guidelines to receive full points and adhere to the requirements.
More Information
For more information on the Program, please visit the Smarter Balanced Teaching and Learning Innovation Awards website.
Smarter Balanced Teaching and Learning Innovation Awards
How to Register
Use the registration link to create an account now for the Teaching and Learning Innovation Awards Program (Program) or read through the process in the Registration Instructions step-by-step guide.
Program Overview
The Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium is excited to announce the Teaching and Learning Innovation Awards. We welcome submissions that showcase innovative practices, strategies, methods, or interventions designed to enhance teaching and student outcomes. The Teaching and Learning Innovation Awards aim to:
- Highlight and promote innovative practices using Smarter Balanced resources;
- Inspire creative ideas for leveraging the Smarter Balanced Assessment System; and
- Increase awareness of the system's capacity to enhance teaching and learning goals.
Award Value
This award offers up to $10,000 to public school districts that reside in each one of the Smarter Balanced member jurisdictions (California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Michigan, Nevada, Oregon, South Dakota, U.S. Virgin Islands, Washington). Unused funds may be redistributed, and future awards may increase based on the program’s success.
Need the Application in Another Format?
If you would like to view the application as a PDF, here is the printer-friendly version. You can use this resource to see the application questions in advance and to make plans on how to address each task within the application. Please note that all applicants must submit their applications through the Awards Management System (AMS) — no other submission options will be supported.
Contact Us
Please email us at sb@smarterbalanced.org with any questions that you have about the Teaching and Learning Innovation Awards or about how to apply to the online application.
Promotional Events
Only a select number of awardees will be featured on Smarter Balanced media platforms, showcasing their replicable and scalable evidence-based practices. Promotional efforts may include, but are not limited to:
- Presence on the Smarter Balanced website
- Social media posts on LinkedIn
- Potential video featured on YouTube channel
- Press release
- Others TBD
Please note that there is no separate compensation for participation in the Smarter Balanced promotional events. However, these media platforms provide an opportunity to share and celebrate the awardees in an effort to ensure other districts are able to maximize their use of the Smarter Balanced resources in their local context.
Timeline
The application process will be managed exclusively through this online awards management system (AMS). The application is limited to the first 3,000 applications.
- Program Announced to Public: Late September
- Promotional Period: September – October
- Application Period: November 12, 2024 – February 2, 2025
- Application Stage 1 Deadline: January 5, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. PT
- Applicants must complete Steps 1-2 by this deadline to be considered for the award.
- Step 1-SB Innovation Awards Application Form
- Step 2-Letter of Intent (LOI) Cover Letter Upload
- Application Stage 2 Deadline: February 2, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. PT
- Applicants must complete Steps 3-9 by this deadline to be considered for the award.
- Step 3-Assurances and Certifications Form
- Step 4-Innovative Practice Priority Form
- Step 5-Local Context and Engagements Upload
- Step 6-Smarter Balanced System Innovative Practices and Strategies Upload
- Step 7-Implementation Approach Upload
- Step 8-Results and Findings Upload
- Step 9-Letter(s) of Reference Upload
- Review Committee Period (Application Evaluations): February – April
- Outreach to Awardees: April – June
- Public Media Release: July – October
Smarter Balanced has the discretion to adjust the timeline as necessary to reflect the needs of the program. Updates will be posted on the website, and applicants are encouraged to check back periodically to see if any changes have occurred. Note: the submission of questions does not constitute an implied extension to the posted timelines on this website. There will not be a date extension based on the submission of questions.
Disclaimer
The award is for already-implemented strategies, as applications require evidence of the effectiveness of the practice. A proposal that fails to follow the Teaching and Learning Innovation Awards - Scoring and Evaluation Rubric (Guidelines) may be considered unacceptable and ineligible for the award. Applicants should strictly follow the Guidelines to receive full points and adhere to the requirements.
More Information
For more information on the Program, please visit the Smarter Balanced Teaching and Learning Innovation Awards website.