Specifications for entries

School districts and county offices of education may submit up to three (3) entries. Any entries beyond three will be automatically disqualified. The District or County Office of Education must specify one program category for each entry. If CSBA determines that the selected program category may be incorrect, CSBA will contact the District or County Office of Education to assist in identifying the appropriate category.

Eligibility criteria
Programs must be operating in a CSBA member District or County Office of Education. A program must have started at least two years prior to the Golden Bell Awards program entry deadline of Friday, June 30, 2023 and currently be in existence.

Submissions
Each entry must be completed online at gb.csba.org. To streamline the application process, please download the form online and prepare your answers in advance. Three (3) high-resolution, color digital photos must be uploaded online at the time of submission. The photos will be used during the awards presentation ceremony and/or in future promotion and publicity efforts. For examples of high-resolution, print-quality photos, please click here.

Entry deadline
All entries must be submitted by Friday, June 30th, 2023. Entries submitted after the deadline will not be considered. For further information about the Golden Bell Awards program, contact the California School Boards Association (800) 266-3382 ext. 2591 or goldenawards@csba.org

Reminder—an entry will be disqualified for any of the following reasons:

  • The school District or County Office of Education is not a member of CSBA.
  • Three entries have already been submitted from the District or County Office of Education.
  • The program has not been in operation for at least two school years.
  • An official entry form is not submitted or does not contain the required check mark.
  • Three high-resolution, color digital photos were not uploaded with the narrative.
  • Evidence of Board Support was not uploaded.
  • The application is not submitted by Friday, June 30th, 2023.

Notice to board presidents and superintendents
Please note that the board president, superintendent, curriculum director or other appropriate district/county office administrator responsible for the program check the box in place of your signature on any entry form submitted from your District or County Office of Education. A maximum of three entries will be accepted from each District or County Office of Education. Please share this with your board members and applicable staff including site principals, instructional services departments and curriculum staff.

Submit a Video
The CSBA Golden Bell Awards will be accepting short video submissions to be featured on our website or at the Golden Bell Awards Reception and Ceremony in November! Please note: The submission of a program video will in no way — positively or negatively — affect a program’s chances of winning a Golden Bell Award. Video submissions will be accepted with or after program entry, but no later than the application deadline.

Video Specifications:
Acceptable file types include .mov, .mpg, .mpeg, .wmv, mp4, .m4v. The pixel aspect ratio should be 640 x 480 at minimum. Video files must not exceed 250 MB and 5 minutes in length. Click here for a full list of video specifications and recommended content.

Mark your calendar
Application Deadline: Friday, June 30th, 2023
Golden Bell Awards Reception and Ceremony: November 30, 2023

Contact Us
Lisa Hutson, Program Coordinator
goldenawards@csba.org
(800) 266-3382, ext. 2591