• How do I nominate my district programs? 

    Details coming soon. 

  • How are the nominations judged?

    The judges will look for programs that:

    • Seek to remove barriers to achievement for vulnerable or underserved children, based on race, ethnicity, gender, special needs, geography, or socioeconomic status.
    • Reflect and support your school board’s equity mission and vision for the district
    • Show evidence of success over time
    • Have longevity and sustainability
    • Are capable of being replicated by other school districts with similar conditions and resources.
  • When is the deadline?

    The nomination deadline for the Magna Awards 2025 program will be announced soon.  

  • Who is eligible?

    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.


  • What are the terms and conditions?

    Terms and conditions are included with those of ASBJ’s publisher, the National School Boards Association.

  • How many nominations can we send in?

    You can submit as many as you like.

  • If I have nominated a program previously, can I nominate it again?

    Yes, you can.

  • How do I know you received my nomination?

    After you complete your nomination, you will receive an email notification that it has been received. You may edit or change your entry up until the entry deadline. Simply log in using your email address to access information already provided. It is very important that you provide us with your valid email address on the nomination form. This is the vehicle we will use to communicate with you about your nomination.

  • What about backup materials?

    You can upload backup materials such as photos, videos, documents, and PDFs on the nomination form, and they will be viewed by the judges.

  • When is the judging?

    The judging usually occurs in late November or early December.

  • Who are the judges?

    The panel of judges is comprised of members of the NSBA Board of Directors Awards Committee.

  • What happens if we win?

    If you are a winner, you will be notified in late December or early January. Notification will be sent to the program's nominator, the district's superintendent, the school board president, and your state school boards association, by email. We ask that you do not announce the award until March.

    Three districts are named grand prize winners and multiple others are named silver winners. Representatives of the three grand prize winners must be available to present at a special Master Class session at NSBA’s Annual Conference. All winning district programs will be featured in April issue of American School Board Journal.

  • When will the winners of the Magna Awards be announced to the public?

    A general announcement about the Magna Awards 2025 honorees will be made in March 2025 and the list of honorees will be published in an issue of American School Board Journal.
  • Tips on Making Your Nomination

    Please review the judges' criteria for winning programs before you submit your nomination and make sure that your nomination meets each criterion. Provide proof that your program meets the stated criteria in your nomination's narrative and backup materials. Be sure to document any evidence that your program meets the stated criteria in your nomination.