2027 Magna Awards

2027 NSBA Magna Awards

Be recognized as a national leader in healthy schools.

The NSBA Magna Awards recognize school districts that lead the way in healthier learning environments through strong indoor air quality practices and sustainable school operations.

National recognition

Showcase your district’s leadership in healthy, sustainable schools.

$5,000 cash awards

Grand prize winners receive $5,000 to support their continued work.

Share your work

Help districts across the country learn from your experience and results.

Start your application → Follow the four steps

Your path to the Magna Awards

Four steps from planning to submission

The application process is straightforward. Follow the steps below to strengthen your application and maximize your district’s score.

1 Understand the scoring

Download the Magna Award Point Calculator

Begin by downloading the Point Calculator to understand the scoring system and track your district’s progress throughout the application process.

Download the Point Calculator →
3 Build your score

Earn additional points

Strengthen your application by completing additional activities. Opportunities include:

✓
Complete Unit 1, Course 1
Creating an IAQ Management Plan →
Save your certificate of completion.
✓
Complete Unit 1, Course 2
Documenting Greenhouse Gas Emissions →
Build your understanding of greenhouse gas emissions.
✓
Attend GGI webinars
View GGI webinars →
Attend and view webinars focused on Indoor Air Quality.
✓
Attend the GGI breakout session at the 2026 CUBE Annual Conference
CUBE conference details →
Friday, October 2, 2026.
✓
Document 12 months of greenhouse gas emissions
Access training resources →
Use GGI training resources to get started.
✓
Demonstrate school board leadership
Describe how your school board helped develop the plan and continues to support its success, using specific examples such as policy, funding, oversight, advocacy, or community engagement.
Keep your documentation. Save certificates of completion and supporting records for inclusion with your Magna Award application.
4 Submit your application

Bring everything together and submit by October 31.

Once your IAQ Management Plan and supporting documentation are ready, complete the NSBA Magna Award application and submit your materials.

Start your application →
✓ Upload your IAQ Management Plan
✓ Include documentation for each point category
✓ Complete every application question
✓ Submit your application by October 31

How applications are evaluated

A complete application tells a strong story.

Reviewers consider both the work your district completed and how clearly you communicate its impact.

  1. 01
    Total points earned Document every qualifying activity.
  2. 02
    Quality of application responses Provide specific, thoughtful examples.
  3. 03
    IAQ Management Plan Submit a complete, high-quality plan.

Award announcement

National recognition begins in March 2027.

Winning districts will be celebrated through NSBA’s national platforms and at its Annual Conference.

3 Grand Prize Winners $5,000

Each grand prize winner will present at NSBA’s Annual Conference and be featured in the April issue of American School Board Journal.

Silver Winners

Nationally recognized

Silver winners will be recognized for their efforts and featured in the April issue of American School Board Journal.

We’re here to help

You don’t have to navigate the application alone.

The Go Green Initiative team is available to support districts throughout the application process.

Sign up here →
  • ✓ One-on-one technical assistance
  • ✓ Feedback on IAQ Management Plans
  • ✓ Guidance on earning Magna Award points
  • ✓ Assistance with application questions