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A+ PROCESS, ELIGIBILITY & TIMELINE INFORMATION

A+ ELIGIBILITY

The A+ School of Excellence Award® is open to any Arizona state accredited public school or any school operating under the Bureau of Indian Education, and any combination of grades Pre-K through 12. To be eligible, schools must fulfill all eligibility requirements.

A+ PROCESS

To be considered for the A+ School of Excellence Award, schools begin by submitting an online written application. Application submissions are reviewed by a panel of experienced judges comprised primarily of A+ School principals along with superintendents and other district administrators. Panels may also include teachers from A+ Schools, higher education personnel, and other Pre-K-12 professionals. Applications should center around what makes your school exemplary.

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The A+ School of Excellence Award is a multi-step process:

  • Step 3: If the written application is successful, schools are granted a site visit. Schools who do not receive a site visit are provided with written feedback and encouraged to incorporate that feedback in submitting a new application for the next cycle.

  • Step 4: Schools receiving site visits are visited by a team of judges who vet the programs and activities described in the written application. Site visits are a day and a half.

  • Step 5: Schools who have successful site visits are given the A+ Award. Schools who are unsuccessful are encouraged to reapply and are provided with written feedback and encouraged to incorporate that feedback in submitting a new application for the next cycle.

 

Schools selected for the award receive $500 and a banner for display on campus. A school retains the A+ designation for four full school years as long as they remain an “A” or “B” school and continue to exhibit the exceptional qualities that are the hallmark of A+ Schools. Schools that earn the award agree to comply with AEF™ authorized logo and name usage requirements related to the A+ School of Excellence™ designation.

A+ SCHOOL OF EXCELLENCE | AEF® STAFF CONTACT

Emily Ramirez-Lara, A+ School of Excellence Coordinator | 623-565-0300 | projects@azedfoundation.org

A+ APPLICATION & RENEWAL TIMELINES

2025–2026 Application Cycle Timeline

 

  1. Application deadline is 5:00pm MST, August 29th, 2025

  2. Late September 2025: Applications are reviewed by panels of A+ judges

  3. October 2025: Schools are notified if a site visit will be conducted

  4. November 2025 - January 2026: Site visits are conducted 

  5. Mid-February 2026: A+ School of Excellence™ winners are announced/Award ceremonies occur

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Renewal School Timeline

 

Schools renewing their A+ designation will reapply at the beginning of their fourth year. NOTE: A “renewal school” is a school applying for another consecutive term as an A+ school. Schools with a lapse in years are not considered renewals.

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  • 2021 Awarded Schools reapply August 31st, 2025 (notified Spring 2026)

  • 2022 Awarded Schools reapply August 31st, 2026 (notified Spring 2027)

  • 2023 Awarded Schools reapply August 31st, 2027 (notified Spring 2028)

  • 2024 Awarded Schools reapply August 31st, 2028 (notified Spring 2029)

 

Note: The renewal timeline above reflects a change in award term made in 2020, allowing schools to keep their status for 4 years rather than the previous 3 1/2.

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Non-Renewal and New Applicant Schools Timeline

 

A school earning the A+ award in SPRING 2025 will have the award as follows:

  • August 2025-August 2026 – YEAR ONE 

  • August 2026-August 2027 – YEAR TWO 

  • August 2027-August 2028 – YEAR THREE.  

  • August 2028-August 2029 – YEAR FOUR. Renewal schools may have their new application submitted in Fall 2029 and a site visit (if granted) during Winter/Spring of their Year Four. Renewals will be awarded in the Spring semester of your school’s FOURTH year.

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