Teaching and Learning Innovation Awards

Local Education Agency (LEA) refers to a public governing body, like a school board, within a state that is legally responsible for managing and overseeing public elementary and secondary schools within a specific geographic area like a city, county, township, or school district. Essentially, it's another way of saying "public school district" with the authority to control and direct educational operations within that area.

For more information, visit the U.S. Department of Education’s Code of Federal Regulations (CFR).

An Authorized Representative is a person appointed by a local educational agency (LEA) to perform audits, evaluations, compliance checks, or enforcement actions related to federally- or state-funded education programs, essentially acting as a designated individual to oversee the proper use of funds and adherence to relevant legal requirements. Typically, this role would be filled by a District Superintendent or someone with similar fiscal management responsibilities who can assist the LEA in responding to grants and audits.

For more information, visit the U.S. Department of Education’s Student Privacy Policy Office: Privacy Technical Assistance Center Glossary.

Yes. One of the reference letters must be from the Authorized Representative at the public school district to make sure it is allowable for the LEA to receive funds and to manage the spending of the funds in accordance with the program requirements.

No. Only public school districts (LEAs) are eligible for this program.

Yes. You may make changes as long as it is before the application deadlines as published in the Scoring Evaluation Rubric. If you need step-by-step instructions on completing the application, please use the “printer friendly version” of the online application. This version can serve as a guide for completing the application tasks and seeing the questions in advance of submitting content. 

• January 5, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. PT for Application Stage 1
• February 2, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. PT for Application Stage 2

Note: You cannot make any changes or have an extension to your application after each deadline has passed.

Award funds must be used solely to support educational purposes and enhance teaching and learning. Examples include addressing learning gaps, providing technology that supports student learning, and enhancing professional development for teachers.

No. There is no option for applicants to appeal the determinations of reviewers' based on ineligibility or scoring.  

No. This award is for already implemented strategies as applications require evidence of the effectiveness of the practice to be considered by the Review Committee. For more information on the evaluation criteria, visit the Application Information section and Requirements and Eligibility section.

Yes. Regional service centers can apply but they will have to partner with a public school district (LEA) as the disbursement of funds will be made to the LEA on record with the NCES Common Core of Data.

Yes. Practices must be original bodies of unique work. If the submission is grounded in another body of work, then appropriate permissions/citations must be included. Application contents of the Teaching and Learning Innovation Award (i.e., submitted documents and forms) and Smarter Balanced promotional materials, including those deemed ineligible, produced for this award become the property of the UC Regents of California on behalf of Smarter Balanced.

• Submitted materials (i.e., completion of the eligibility form and uploaded documents).
• Promotional materials (e.g., interviews, social media posts, press releases, videos, etc.).
• Winners of the award will sign an agreement before funds can be distributed to the school district to clarify terms and conditions of use.

Yes. Public school districts can have more than one submission. However, only one award will be selected for the Smarter Balanced Member jurisdictions.

Visit the Search for Public Schools Website. If you need step-by-step instructions on looking up district information, please follow the “District/School NCES Lookup Instructions” guide.

No. All materials related to the review process will remain confidential, will not be released to applicants, and will be retained by Smarter Balanced for a period of two years to support the continuity of scoring from year to year.

At this time, the program’s continuation has not been determined. The program’s future hinges on the availability of funds, public school district interest and response, and the overall success of the program for informing other districts of the power of the Smarter Balanced resources to enhance educational outcomes for teaching and learning. These factors must first be determined before a new program cycle is announced. However, LEAs who have received awards in the past will not be eligible to submit again for future awards during the period of two consecutive program cycles (i.e., back to back).