ISBA Exemplary Governance Awards
INDIVIDUAL EGA AWARDS
Each Exemplary Governance Award (EGA) level is determined by points a board member earns by attending continuous improvement and professional development activities as described as qualifying electives. Level designations are awarded based upon every board member’s accumulation of points during consecutive years of board service.
COMMENDABLE: 75* POINTS
This level one award recognizes a member’s commendable efforts by demonstrating a desire for advancing the principles of good governance. This individual has worked to attain the 1st level towards exemplary governance by earning 75 EGA points through participation in training, seminars, and/or conferences.
ADVANCED: 125* POINTS
The second level award reflects a commitment to excellence for those board members who have demonstrated their passion for service and leadership by advancing their professional development education through training opportunities that boosts their total EGA points accumulated to 125.
DISTINGUISHED: 175* POINTS
This award recognizes the outstanding achievement of a board member, dedicated to board governance at a distinguished level. Board members earning this level demonstrate a commitment to continuing education and effective board governance. This level is attained by a member earning a total of 175 EGA points.
EXEMPLARY: 225* POINTS
This is the highest level an individual board member can earn. Board members at this level have demonstrated an exemplary commitment to their own professional development in leadership and board governance through their continuous engagement in ISBA’s professional development programs. Exemplary governance status requires earning 225 EGA points.
* The points required to advance to each level must include points earned by attending a minimum of one core elective.
BOARD LEVELS
An entire board can qualify for awards in four categories based on the collective Exemplary Governance Award (EGA) status of its individual members and completing certain criteria as a unit. The first three categories are: Commendable, Advanced, and Distinguished. The fourth category represents the highest award offered by ISBA, the Exemplary Governance Award.
COMMENDABLE
Commendable board recognition requires that a majority of a board’s members have attained EGA Level One (75 points) or higher. Points earned must include points earned by attending one or more Core meetings.
ADVANCED
Advanced board recognition requires that all board members be at EGA Level One (75 points) or higher. Points earned must include points earned by attending one or more Core meetings. Additionally, the board must complete an annual board self-assessment with ISBA before December 31st of each year.
DISTINGUISHED
Distinguished boards must be second year Advanced Boards. Each member must earn a minimum of 25 additional EGA points per year including points earned by attending one or more Core electives. The board must also show evidence of a board retreat with an outside facilitator (agenda and name of facilitator; minimum of 4 hours) and complete an annual board self-assessment with ISBA.
EXEMPLARY GOVERNANCE AWARD
The Exemplary Governance Award is the highest award a school board can earn. This distinction is earned by validating exemplary board service by showing evidence of leadership and governance effectiveness, student achievement initiatives, continuous improvement, strategic planning, and policy review. Any board earning this award will have clearly demonstrated EGA expectations showing how training and professional development translates into greater governance performance through effective leadership.
Earning the Exemplary Governance Award requires that:
- Each board member must be at EGA Level One (75 points) or higher
- The board must submit an annual performance portfolio by December 31st documenting their adherence, completion and/or validation of the following:
• Board self-assessment with ISBA
• Annual board retreat
• Annual review of corporation goals
• Evidence of the board’s commitment to student achievement
• Evidence of a board’s continuing education and professional development commitment
• Evidence of an annual superintendent evaluation
• Adoption of a board compact and/or code of ethics
Each Exemplary Governance Award (EGA) level is determined by points a board member earns by attending continuous improvement and professional development activities as described as qualifying electives. Level designations are awarded based upon every board member’s accumulation of points during consecutive years of board service.
COMMENDABLE: 75* POINTS
This level one award recognizes a member’s commendable efforts by demonstrating a desire for advancing the principles of good governance. This individual has worked to attain the 1st level towards exemplary governance by earning 75 EGA points through participation in training, seminars, and/or conferences.
ADVANCED: 125* POINTS
The second level award reflects a commitment to excellence for those board members who have demonstrated their passion for service and leadership by advancing their professional development education through training opportunities that boosts their total EGA points accumulated to 125.
DISTINGUISHED: 175* POINTS
This award recognizes the outstanding achievement of a board member, dedicated to board governance at a distinguished level. Board members earning this level demonstrate a commitment to continuing education and effective board governance. This level is attained by a member earning a total of 175 EGA points.
EXEMPLARY: 225* POINTS
This is the highest level an individual board member can earn. Board members at this level have demonstrated an exemplary commitment to their own professional development in leadership and board governance through their continuous engagement in ISBA’s professional development programs. Exemplary governance status requires earning 225 EGA points.
* The points required to advance to each level must include points earned by attending a minimum of one core elective.
BOARD LEVELS
An entire board can qualify for awards in four categories based on the collective Exemplary Governance Award (EGA) status of its individual members and completing certain criteria as a unit. The first three categories are: Commendable, Advanced, and Distinguished. The fourth category represents the highest award offered by ISBA, the Exemplary Governance Award.
COMMENDABLE
Commendable board recognition requires that a majority of a board’s members have attained EGA Level One (75 points) or higher. Points earned must include points earned by attending one or more Core meetings.
ADVANCED
Advanced board recognition requires that all board members be at EGA Level One (75 points) or higher. Points earned must include points earned by attending one or more Core meetings. Additionally, the board must complete an annual board self-assessment with ISBA before December 31st of each year.
DISTINGUISHED
Distinguished boards must be second year Advanced Boards. Each member must earn a minimum of 25 additional EGA points per year including points earned by attending one or more Core electives. The board must also show evidence of a board retreat with an outside facilitator (agenda and name of facilitator; minimum of 4 hours) and complete an annual board self-assessment with ISBA.
EXEMPLARY GOVERNANCE AWARD
The Exemplary Governance Award is the highest award a school board can earn. This distinction is earned by validating exemplary board service by showing evidence of leadership and governance effectiveness, student achievement initiatives, continuous improvement, strategic planning, and policy review. Any board earning this award will have clearly demonstrated EGA expectations showing how training and professional development translates into greater governance performance through effective leadership.
Earning the Exemplary Governance Award requires that:
- Each board member must be at EGA Level One (75 points) or higher
- The board must submit an annual performance portfolio by December 31st documenting their adherence, completion and/or validation of the following:
• Board self-assessment with ISBA
• Annual board retreat
• Annual review of corporation goals
• Evidence of the board’s commitment to student achievement
• Evidence of a board’s continuing education and professional development commitment
• Evidence of an annual superintendent evaluation
• Adoption of a board compact and/or code of ethics
