NNPS will expand its Partnership Awards program to include $500 prizes. Beginning in 2004, up to ten school, district, state, or organization partnership programs will receive a $500 prize with their Partnership Award and the additional honor of Special Recognition.
The NNPS Partnership Award program, initiated in 2000, recognizes members that have worked with NNPS for two or more years and demonstrated excellent leadership, programs, and practices of family and community involvement. Award applications require evidence of effective action on “essential elements” that NNPS studies show have measurable influence on the quality, outreach, and results of partnership programs. These elements include leadership, teamwork, plans for action, implementation, evaluation, and networking.
Award winners receiving Special Recognition and a $500 prize will provide evidence of exceptional progress, quality, and sustained leadership on school, family, and community partnerships for more than two years. They will be invited to present their programs at an NNPS Leadership Development Conference to share details about how they have organized, customized, and implemented NNPS research-based practices in their locations. “The monetary awards will shine a spotlight on schools, districts, states, and organizations that have superior programs. The prizes may be used to support excellent activities or help pay travel costs to present at an NNPS conference,” explained Joyce Epstein, NNPS Director.
NNPS will continue to make annual Partnership Awards, without a limit on numbers, to honor all schools, districts, states, and organizations in NNPS that meet the rigorous criteria for excellent programs for two or more years. All Partnership Award winners, including those identified for Special Recognition, will receive one free registration to an NNPS Leadership Development Conference (a $200 value), a banner or plaque for display, and national attention in the education media and on the NNPS web site.
2004 Partnership Awards applications have been mailed to all NNPS members of 2 or more years. The applications also may be downloaded from the NNPS web site at www.partnershipschools.org; click on “In the Spotlight.” Applications are due June 30, 2004. Awards will be announced at the start of the new school year.