Intel Schools of Distinction

Application Process & Eligibility:

Selection Process	Criteria for Evaluation
Categories	Additional Competition Information

This awards program is open to K-12 public, private, charter, parochial schools in the United States, Department of Defense Dependents Schools, and Bureau of Indian Affairs schools. Home schools are not eligible.

Eligibility is limited to accredited schools that are publicly funded and/or not-for-profit. If you meet those qualifications, the fact that you are a virtual school does not exclude you, though the judging does look at the strength of the school community and partnerships, which may present a challenge for you depending on the relationship you undertake with your constituents.

The application process consists of a one-time online entry submission that will undergo several rounds of judging. Entry is limited to one entry per school. Eighteen finalists will be selected, three in each category (Math and Science) and at each grade level: elementary (k-5), middle (6-8) and high school (9-12). Six winners will then be selected - Three winners in each category (math and science): representing elementary, middle and high school levels. Please determine which level and category you will apply for before beginning the application process.

In order to be able to judge the impact of your school's program, we need to see at least three years of results data, whether NCES or other comparable data.

Previous winners are not eligible to apply for three years and must apply in a new category. In addition, employees of Intel® Corporation, its affiliates, subsidiaries, advertising and promotion agencies, and the immediate families of each are excluded from entering the contest.

Selection process:

The initial round of judging will determine the top 60% of all eligible applications received. These applications will then progress to a second round of judging in which the top 10% of the semifinalists will be selected. The third round will narrow the applications to the top 18 (3 per category and grade level), and these 18 finalists will compete in a final round of judging to determine the 6 category winners. From these six category winners, one school will be selected to receive the designation of Star Innovator.

Categories:

There are two categories for the 2009 Intel Schools of Distinction award: mathematics and science. Your school may apply for the Intel School of Distinction in either category. As you read the Criteria for Evaluation, note the type of information being considered. This information will provide general guidance for you as you complete your contest application.

Criteria for Evaluation:

Programs for either math or science should be designed to ensure high levels of achievement for all students in all program areas. Exemplary applicants will be selected by examining the extent to which they represent the intersection of the benchmarks laid out by the Partnership for 21st Century Skills in their ICT literacy maps for each content area (math and science) and national content standards for that content area. In addition, judges will take into consideration for each school their:

• Professional development program(s)
• Leadership model
• Level of community involvement
• Level of collaboration/teamwork
• Capacity to scale and sustain
• Use of rich digital content
• Level of student achievement
• A variety of instructional strategies incorporating such areas as critical thinking skills, hands-on experiences, and project-based learning

Additional Competition Information

• NO PURCHASE NECESSARY
• Intel Foundation reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to cancel or suspend this contest should a virus, bugs or other causes beyond the control of Intel Foundation corrupt the administration, security or proper operation of the competition.
• Applicants agree that Intel Foundation has the sole right to determine the winners of the competition and all matters or disputes arising from the competition and that its determination is final and binding.
• There are no prize/award substitutions or transfers permitted except at the sole discretion of Intel Foundation.
• All federal, state and local laws and regulations apply.
• Void where prohibited.
• Any federal, state and local taxes on prizes/awards are the sole responsibility of the winner.
• All applications become the property of the Intel Foundation and will not be returned. Intel Foundation is not responsible for entries not received due to lost, failed, delayed or interrupted connections or miscommunications, or and other electronic malfunctions. Furthermore, Intel Foundation is not responsible for incorrect or inaccurate entry information, whether caused by persons entering information at the web site or by any of the equipment or programming associated with or utilized in the contest or by any human error which may occur in the processing of the entries in this contest. The contents may be used for promotion, editorial, advertising, marketing, and other similar purposes without further notice or any compensation. You must certify that all information is true and be willing to provide verification.
• Any information submitted may be used in the Intel Schools of Distinction best practices database, regardless of final determination of winners. In addition, a selection of applications in each category will be retained, with all school specific identification deleted, for use as representative examples for improving future processing of applications.
• It is solely at the discretion of the Intel Schools of Distinction to judge the degree to which an application is competitive with other applications in the same category, as well as whether it meets eligibility rules. Intel reserves the right to declare no winners for one or more contest categories.
• Category winners may be required to complete and return a non-disclosure agreement and an affidavit of eligibility and liability/public release within 5 days by return prepaid Federal Express overnight notification or an award may be forfeited and awarded to an alternate winner. Your name and likeness may be used in promotions about the awards without compensation. Permission to submit an application must be obtained from the principal and superintendent, or school board if necessary.