Exemplary School-University Partnership Award
(formerly called the NASUP Exemplary Professional Development School Award)
All nominations and supporting materials must be submitted electronically to NASUP Awards committee using the link below. The deadline is 11:59 p.m. PST on November 22, 2026.
2026 Awardees, University of South Carolina and Lexington District One
2026 Awardees, Wichita State University and Wichita Public Schools
Award Information
Background
The NASUP Exemplary School-University Partnership Award recognizes distinctive School-University Partnerships (SUPs) for their ongoing contributions to the mission and vision of the National Association for School and University Partnerships. NASUP acknowledges that exemplary achievement takes place in large, multi-institutional partnerships as well as in single-site partnerships between P-12 schools and universities; in well-funded and in budget-challenged partnerships; in long-standing collaborations as well as in recently established partnerships.
Eligibility
In order to be eligible for this award the nominated partnership must:
- Include a partnership between at least two of the following:
- P-12 school district or school
- University or College
- Community organization
- Include individuals who are members of NASUP
- Meet each of the criteria detailed below
Note: Past recipients of the award are not eligible to apply again until at least four years after receiving a previous award.
Criteria
Selection for the award will be based on the following criteria. Each section should be clearly identifiable in the nomination file:
- Description about the shared ownership and structures of the partnership
- Description about how the partnership and activities are responsive to the needs of the participating institutions
- Description about who is engaging in professional learning in the partnership and the specific learning activities
- Description of the impact of the partnership with data about how the partnership has benefited individuals from each of the participating institutions (e.g., schools, universities, community organizations)
- Description about how inquiry, data, or changes in context have influenced the refinement of the partnership over time
- Description about how individuals in the partnership have shared information about their partnership (e.g., conference presentations, articles or book chapters, online content)
Application Materials
The application will include the following:
- A cover sheet of no more than 2 single-spaced pages that includes:
- the name, title, mailing address, phone number, and e-mail address for two individuals serving as the Primary Contacts for the partnership (one from P-12 school/district context, one from a university context);
- the names and positions of all individuals who contributed to the writing and/or information gathering as part of the application;
- the names of all members of the partnership who are current NASUP members;
- a representative list of collaborative presentations or publications on SUP-related topics involving P-12 and higher education members of the partnership in the past four years.
- NOTE: The Awards Committee acknowledges that funding, partnership size and geography may affect the number of individuals who are in a position to join NASUP or attend its National Conference. Appropriate consideration will be given to all worthy applications regardless of funding, size or geography. Similarly, the Committee recognizes that important SUP-related presentations and publications may be made in other settings and journals.
[The cover sheet section does not count toward the 5-page narrative described below.]
- A well-written narrative of no more than 5 single-spaced pages (12 pt. font) that highlights the impact of the SUP on the contexts. The narrative should explicitly address the criteria addressed above.
- NOTE: Reviewers will not open embedded links.
- Appendices that do not count towards the page limit:
- A copy of the partnership mission and/or vision statement;
- A copy of the partnership’s written articulation agreement.
Selection Process
- Members of the NASUP Awards Committee, including representation from the PK-12 and college/university committees, will review the materials.
- The NASUP Leadership Team will approve the recipients.
- Upon approval of the Leadership Team, the recipient(s) will be notified immediately in order to encourage representation at the awards ceremony of the annual conference.
Publicity
The award shall be publicized in the publications of the NASUP, on its website, and in other appropriate NASUP venues. The primary contact persons for the partnership will receive a formal press release to use for publicizing the award. Award winners are also strongly encouraged to share about their partnership in NASUP journals.
Previous Award Recipients
2026
-
University of South Carolina and Lexington District One
- Wichita State University and Wichita Public Schools
2025
- no award given
2024
- University of North Carolina at Wilmington and Isaac Bear Early College & Southeast Area Technical College
2023
- Centreville Elementary School and George Mason University
2022
- Kansas State University and Manahattan-Ogden USD Partnership
- Notre Dame of Maryland University Professional Development Schools Network
- William Paterson University and Paterson Public Schools
2021
- Bowie State University Professional Development Schools Network
- California Lutheran Professional Development Schools Network
- University of North Carolina Charlotte – Kannapolis City Elementary Schools PDS Partnership
- Salisbury University PDS Partnership with the Wicomico County Public Schools
2020
- Brigham Young University Public School PDS Partnership
- George Mason University Daniels Run Elementary PDS Partnership
- Rowan University PDS Network
2019
- University of South Florida and Mort Elementary Community Partnership PDS
- University of South Carolina PDS Network
2018
- SUNY Buffalo State Professional Development School Consortium
- Federal Hocking Local Schools/Ohio University C.A.R.E. Professional Development School Partnership
- Penn State University/State College Area School District Professional Development School Partnership
- Waco Independent School District/Baylor University Professional Development School Partnership
2017
- Baylor University/Midway ISD Professional Development School Partnership
- Monmouth University Professional Development School Partnership
- Salisbury University PDS Partnership with Snow Hill Elementary School
2016
- George Mason University, Fairfax County Public Schools, Prince Williams County Schools, Manassas Park City Schools
- Quinnipiac University School of Education, Side by Side Charter School Fair Haven Elementary School
2015
- Bowie State University PDS Network
- Emporia State University Professional Development School
- North Springs Elementary School and the University of South Carolina
- Salisbury University and Mardela Middle & High School PDS
- Clarke County School District & University of Georgia College of Education Professional Development School District
- PDS Relationship between Dreher High School and the University of South Carolina
2014
- Athens City Schools and the Patton College Center for PDS Partnerships at Ohio University
- Millersville University Secondary Education Professional Development School
- The Elementary Block Network in the Watson College of Education Professional Development System at the University of North Carolina Wilmington
- The University of South Florida College of Education Partnership with the Hillsborough County Public Schools
2013
- Professional Development School Collaboration between Lake Carolina Elementary School and the University of South Carolina
- Winthrop University University-School Partnership Network
- Professional Development School Collaboration between Friendship Elementary School and the University of Central Florida
- Professional Development School Collaboration between Holly Glen Elementary and Edward R. Johnstone Elementary Schools, and Rowan University
2012
- Benedum Collaborative (West Virginia)
- Brigham Young University – Public School Partnership
- Marietta Middle School/Kennesaw State University PDS
- Minnesota State University Mankato PDS Partnership
- Timbercrest – University of Central Florida PDS
2011
- Buffalo State College, School of Education, Department of Elementary Education and Reading Professional Development School Consortium
- Cleveland State University Master of Urban Secondary Teaching and Cleveland School of Science and Medicine
- Kansas State University College of Education PDS Partnership
- Rice Creek Elementary School and the University of South Carolina PDS
- Salisbury University and Worcester County Public Schools Snow Hill Elementary/Worcester Elementary PDS Cluster
2010
- The Indiana State University Professional Development School Partnership
- The Queens University of Charlotte/ Myers Park Traditional Elementary School PDS
- The Towson University -Waterloo-Ilchester-Bellows Spring Elementary Education-Special Education Dual Certification PDS
- The University of South Carolina Professional Development School Network
2009
- Penn State University and State College Area School District Elementary Professional Development School Collaborative
- North Springs Elementary School – Columbia, SC
- North Florida Urban Professional Development School Partnership