The standards represent high but reasonable levels of school performance measured in terms of student learning and participation in school. Schools are selected for recognition based on their demonstrated improvement in progressing toward the standards and not on their performance level relative to other schools. The criteria now include the performance of minority groups. Schools selected to receive monetary awards must demonstrate significant gains in SPI for two to four years. Schools with a multicultural population also must show a significant gain among all of their subgroup's.
All schools have a chance to earn awards.
This is because schools are measured by the change in their performance over time and not by their performance compared with other schools. In addition, schools are eligible to receive awards every year, as long as their performance continues to improve.