ARIZONA EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION INC

THE AEF A+ SCHOOL OF EXCELLENCE PROGRAM IS A COMPREHENSIVE SCHOOL RECOGNITION PROGRAM THAT BEGAN 39 YEARS AGO. THROUGH THE PROGRAM, AEF IDENTIFIES, RECOGNIZES AND REWARDS PRE-KINDERGARTEN THROUGH 12TH GRADE PUBLIC SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT ARIZONA THAT DEMONSTRATE EXCELLENCE IN EVERY ASPECT OF EDUCATION: STUDENT FOCUS AND SUPPORT; SCHOOL ORGANIZATION AND CULTURE; CHALLENGING AND VIABLE CURRICULUM; ACTIVE TEACHING AND LEARNING; PROFESSIONAL COMMUNITY; LEADERSHIP; COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS; AND ASSESSMENT. PRE-KINDERGARTEN THROUGH 12TH GRADE PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN ARIZONA THAT HAVE BEEN IN OPERATION FOR SIX OR MORE YEARS AND RECEIVED A GRADE OF "A- OR "B" FROM THE ARIZONA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION ARE ELIGIBLE TO APPLY FOR THIS PRESTIGIOUS, WELL-KNOWN, AND COVETED AWARD. THE PROCESS NECESSITATES THAT THE SCHOOL COMPLETE AND SUBMIT A 35-TO-40-PAGE DETAILED APPLICATION, WHICH IS READ, REVIEWED AND EVALUATED BY A PANEL OF LEADERS FROM THE EDUCATION AND BUSINESS COMMUNITIES. SCHOOLS WHOSE WRITTEN APPLICATIONS QUALIFY FOR IT RECEIVE A DAY-AND-A-HALF-LONG SITE VISIT FROM MEMBERS OF A REVIEW COMMITTEE TO DETERMINE IF THE AWARD IS WARRANTED. THE A+ SCHOOL OF EXCELLENCE DESIGNATION IS VALID FOR FOUR YEARS, AFTER WHICH TIME A SCHOOL MUST RE-APPLY. AEF CONDUCTS INFORMATIONAL MEETINGS ACROSS ARIZONA EACH FALL TO INTRODUCE SCHOOLS TO AND ACQUAINT THEM WITH THE PROGRAM, GIVE INSIGHT ON WRITING A SUCCESSFUL APPLICATION, AND ENCOURAGE SCHOOLS TO APPLY FOR THE AWARD. IN THE PAST FIVE YEARS, 337 SCHOOLS FROM THROUGHOUT THE STATE HAVE APPLIED FOR CONSIDERATION OF THE A+ SCHOOL OF EXCELLENCE AWARD. SCHOOLS USE THE COVETED A+ SCHOOL DISTINCTION AS A RECRUITING TOOL FOR NEW STUDENTS AND CIVIC LEADERS USE IT AS A WAY TO LURE INDUSTRY TO LOCAL COMMUNITIES. SINCE 1991, 651 SCHOOLS RANGING FROM URBAN AND SUBURBAN SCHOOLS TO RURAL AND SMALLER COMMUNITY SCHOOLS TO A SCHOOL LOCATED ON THE NAVAJO RESERVATION HAVE EARNED THE DESIGNATION. THE A+ SCHOOL OF EXCELLENCE PROGRAM PROVIDES AN OBJECTIVE, COMPREHENSIVE, AUTHENTIC ASSESSMENT OF APPLICANT SCHOOLS. AWARDED SCHOOL LEADERS PROFESS THAT EARNING THE AWARD ENABLES SCHOOLS TO COLLABORATE WITH THE COMMUNITY THEY SERVE IN ORDER TO ARTICULATE, ANALYZE, EVALUATE, MODIFY AND IMPROVE EVERY ASPECT RELATED TO THE EDUCATION AND CARE OF THEIR STUDENTS. THE PROCESS SERVES AS A SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT PLAN AND A NEEDS ASSESSMENT TOOL. THE COVETED AWARD VALIDATES A SCHOOL'S EFFECTIVENESS, UNIFIES THE COMMUNITY, BRINGS POSITIVE PUBLIC ATTENTION TO SUCCESSES IN PUBLIC EDUCATION, AND INSTILLS A SENSE OF PRIDE IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS. AWARDED SCHOOLS ENCOURAGE FELLOW EDUCATORS, PARENTS AND BUSINESSES TO VISIT THEIR SCHOOLS; THEY SERVE AS MODELS OF EXEMPLARY EDUCATIONAL PRACTICES. A+ SCHOOL OF EXCELLENCE PRINCIPALS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BECOME MENTORS AND COACHES TO EMERGING SCHOOL LEADERS THROUGH AEF'S PRINCIPALS' LEADERSHIP ACADEMY (SEE DESCRIPTION BELOW).

THE AEF ARIZONA STATE SPELLING BEE IS ADMINISTERED BY AEF TO DETERMINE ARIZONA'S REPRESENTATIVE IN THE ANNUAL SCRIPPS NATIONAL SPELLING BEE IN WASHINGTON D.C. SPELLING BEES GIVE STUDENTS FROM PUBLIC, PRIVATE, CHARTER AND HOME SCHOOLS AN OPPORTUNITY TO UTILIZE THEIR SPELLING AND PHONETIC SKILLS IN A COMPETITIVE ENVIRONMENT AND A CHANCE TO PARTICIPATE IN HIGHER LEVEL BEES. SPELLING BEES GIVE STUDENTS WHO MIGHT NOT EXCEL IN MORE TRADITIONAL COMPETITIVE ENVIRONMENTS SUCH AS SPORTS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHINE. CLOSE TO 300,000 STUDENTS STATEWIDE IN GRADES KINDERGARTEN THROUGH EIGHT COMPETE IN CLASSROOM, SCHOOL, DISTRICT, AND COUNTY BEES TO QUALIFY AS ONE OF 27 FINALISTS IN THE STATE BEE. AEF WORKS YEAR-ROUND WITH SCHOOL, DISTRICT, REGIONAL AND COUNTY COORDINATORS ACROSS ARIZONA TO ENSURE CONSISTENCY AND FAIRNESS IN DETERMINING WHICH 27 SPELLERS WILL VIE FOR THE TITLE OF ARIZONA STATE SPELLING BEE CHAMPION. THE WINNER AND CHAPERONE RECEIVE AN ALL-EXPENSES PAID TRIP TO WASHINGTON D.C., SO ARIZONA'S CHAMPION CAN COMPETE IN THE SCRIPPS NATIONAL SPELLING BEE IN LATE SPRING.