Creative Solutions for School District Challenges

To nominate a program, visit the Magna Awards application page.

Please contact memberservices@nsba.org should you have questions or require assistance. 

NSBA’s Magna Awards program has a long history of recognizing exemplary school district programs. The 2025 awards program focuses on innovation in education. It will recognize district programs that solved a challenge with creativity and out-of-the-box strategies. 

A grand prize and silver award winners will be recognized in each enrollment category: under 5,000 enrollment, 5,000-20,000 enrollment, and over 20,000 enrollment.

The three grand prize winners will showcase their winning programs at a special Master Class session during NSBA’s 2025 annual conference in Atlanta in April.

All winning districts will be featured in the April 2025 issue of American School Board Journal.

For the 2025 awards, the judges will look for programs that:

• Solve or address a challenge in their school districts. 
• Are supported by district leaders who encourage creative solutions. 
• Exhibit success over time.
• Have longevity and sustainability.
• Can be replicated by other school districts with similar conditions and resources.

PLEASE NOTE: NSBA Member State Association districts and all CUBE and NatCon districts are eligible to apply for the 2025 Magna Awards. If you are uncertain about your membership status, please contact member services at memberservices@nsba.org.

To learn more, read the Magna Awards' FAQ.

2024 Grand Prize Winners

New York’s Orleans/Niagara Board of Cooperative Educational Services, Oklahoma’s Lawton Public Schools, and Maryland’s Prince George’s County Public Schools are the Grand Prize winners in the 29th annual Magna Awards program sponsored by the National School Boards Association’s flagship magazine, American School Board Journal (ASBJ). Learn more about the winners in this ASBJ article or watch the videos below.