Model of Sustained Excellence Award | National IAQ TfS Awards Program

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Envisioning Excellence presents the Framework for Effective School IAQ Programs: Six Key Drivers -- guidelines that detail the organizational approaches and practices that are fundamental to school IAQ program success -- and presents five profiles to demonstrate how different school districts applied the Framework to create enduring IAQ programs. Learn more about this exciting tool.

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You may be eligible for one of EPA's highest honors, the IAQ Tools for Schools (IAQ TfS) National Model of Sustained Excellence Award. Winners of the Model of Sustained Excellence Award demonstrate an enduring commitment to student and staff health and wellness by building, evaluating, sustaining, and institutionalizing robust and highly effective school IAQ management programs.

If you can answer “Yes” to the following questions, you should apply for this national award:

Has your school district ever won the IAQ TfS National Excellence Award?
Have you sustained your award-winning program and institutionalized good IAQ management practices as standard operating procedures in your school system?
Do you track improvements in student and staff health, productivity, and performance related to improved indoor environments?
Have you mentored other school districts to help them implement effective IAQ management programs?

Benefits of the IAQ TfS National Model of Sustained Excellence Award

The IAQ TfS National Model of Sustained Excellence Award is the highest honor EPA grants for school IAQ excellence. Winners of the National Model of Sustained Excellence Award will be recognized at the IAQ TfS National Symposium in Washington, DC, January 14-16, 2010, and will receive:

An engraved IAQ TfS National Model of Sustained Excellence Award crystal statue;

A fully paid trip for one school representative to Washington, DC, to receive the Award at the IAQ TfS National Symposium;

Paid registration for one person to attend the IAQ TfS National Symposium;

Recognition as a national model of school environmental excellence on EPA’s Web site;

National media attention in an EPA press release about the annual award winners; and

A press kit containing press release templates, fact sheets, and contact information to help you communicate your success and receipt of the IAQ TfS National Model of Sustained Excellence Award in your community.

Application Overview

The IAQ TfS National Model of Sustained Excellence Award is only presented to U.S. school districts that show ongoing commitment and achievement in maintaining healthy school environments that promote student and staff health, wellness, performance, and success. EPA will evaluate applicants based on the achievement of designated milestones, demonstrated program outcomes, and evidence that IAQ management goals and practices have been fully integrated into the school system’s standard operating procedures.

The key to winning an EPA IAQ TfS National Model of Sustained Excellence Award is to demonstrate that your IAQ management program embodies the Framework for Effective School IAQ Programs: Six Key Drivers and is fully integrated into the routine operations of the school system. Applicants should strive to show and describe how they have applied the key drivers to build, evaluate, and sustain their IAQ management programs. The Framework for Effective School IAQ Programs: Six Key Drivers (which may be found at www.iaqsymposium.com ) provides a clear, evidence-based framework common to school districts that have effective and ensuring IAQ management programs. The framework provides a common language for thinking about the critical practices and activities that lead to program success.

Evaluation Criteria

Recipients of the National Model of Sustained Excellence Award are selected through a competitive process. To qualify for an award, applicants must be from (or submit on behalf of) a school system/district that has previously won an EPA IAQ TfS National Excellence Award. Interested school systems/districts with exemplary IAQ management program that have not yet won an IAQ TfS National Excellence Award are encouraged to apply for the IAQ TfS National Excellence Award - see www.epa.gov/iaq/schools/awards.html.

Download the Evaluation Criteria (PDF, 2 pp., 597 K)

Eligible applicants for the National Model of Sustained Excellence Award will be evaluated on their ability to demonstrate a sustained commitment to IAQ management to promote student and staff health as evidenced by:

Continued senior management support for making comprehensive IAQ management a part of the day-to-day operations of the school system.

Effective, comprehensive IAQ management program that is consistent with U.S. EPA’s IAQ TfS Program and embodies the Framework for Effective School IAQ Programs: Six Key Drivers.

A mature IAQ management program that demonstrates growth and improvement over time.

Results (qualitative and quantitative) demonstrating the IAQ program’s impact on the environment, student and staff health, performance, and productivity.

Evidence of mentoring other school systems to help them develop or sustain effective IAQ management programs.

Evaluation Process

A panel of government experts in IAQ, EPA’s IAQ TfS program, children’s health, and school-based environment, safety, and health issues will review National Model of Sustained Excellence Award applications. Applicants will be judged solely on the information in their applications. In making award decisions, the panel will evaluate applications based on the degree to which the program addresses the National Model of Sustained Excellence Award evaluation criteria.

Instructions for Applying

As you complete this application, please note the following:

Page limit – 5 pages double-sided.
A minimum font size of 11 point.

A complete application consists of the following:

Full completion of Parts 1-3 of the IAQ Tools for Schools National Model of Sustained Excellence Award Application (PDF, 20 pp., 105 K) | MS Word (DOC, 20 pp. 213 K). You can use Adobe Acrobat Reader to fill out the form. If you use the auto form feature of these PDF files, you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader version 5 or above.
Demonstration of a continuing commitment to sustainable IAQ management such as a signed Letter of Commitment (PDF, 1 page, 717KB) | MS Word (DOC, 1 page, 150KB) from a school system/district administrator. (This may be scanned and submitted electronically with complete application package.)

Complete application packages may be submitted to:

Via E-mail: awardscoordinator@cadmusgroup.com

By Mail: IAQ Tools for Schools Awards Coordinator
                c/o The Cadmus Group, Inc.
                1600 Wilson Blvd., Suite 500
                Arlington, VA 22209

Notification Process

Upon receipt of your application materials, you will receive a confirmation e-mail. This e-mail will provide further detailed information about when applicants should expect to learn of their award status.

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	Continued senior management support for making comprehensive IAQ management a part of the day-to-day operations of the school system.
	Effective, comprehensive IAQ management program that is consistent with U.S. EPA’s IAQ TfS Program and embodies the Framework for Effective School IAQ Programs: Six Key Drivers.
	A mature IAQ management program that demonstrates growth and improvement over time.
	Results (qualitative and quantitative) demonstrating the IAQ program’s impact on the environment, student and staff health, performance, and productivity.
	Evidence of mentoring other school systems to help them develop or sustain effective IAQ management programs.

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