Although schools may receive national recognition more than once, they must wait a minimum of 5 school years before they may reapply. Each state administers its own program for selecting public schools to be nominated to the national level. The Council for American Private Education nominates private schools. A national review panel evaluates the nominations and the most promising schools are recommended for site visits. The purpose of a visit is to verify the accuracy of the information the school has provided in its nomination form and to gather any additional information the panel has requested.
Experienced educators serve as site visitors and submit their written report to the panel.
The panel considers the report and makes recommendations to the U.S. Secretary of Education, who then announces the names of the schools selected for recognition. Each year, a limited number of special emphases are designated. These represent areas where school performance needs to be greatly improved and where effective models are sought. The President's Education Awards Program rewards students for their academic effort and success. The program consists of two awards, the President's Award for Educational Excellence and the President's Award for Educational Improvement.