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California Pivotal Practice Program

A program recognizing some of California's districts and public schools. Districts and schools that are selected have demonstrated innovation and exceptional work when California required schools to offer distance learning.

Program Information

A component of the California Department of Education (CDE) California School Recognition Program (CSRP), the California Pivotal Practice (CAPP) Program is being utilized by California in 2022 in place of the California Distinguished Schools (DS) Program. Due to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, state law has suspended the reporting of state and local indicators on the 2020 and 2021 California School Dashboard (Dashboard). Information regarding the Dashboard is provided on the CDE California School Dashboard and System of Support web page. In 2022, California is recognizing districts and elementary and middle and high schools that have completed an Online Application highlighting a pivotal practice that they implemented during the 2020–21 school year when California required schools to offer distance learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Eligibility Criteria

District superintendents, charter school administrators, and school principals that would like to apply to be recognized as a 2022 CAPP Awardee must have submitted only one completed 2022 CAPP Application for their district or school, choosing to highlight a pivotal practice that they implemented during distance learning, from at least one of the following categories:

  • Student Engagement
  • Distribution of Technology
  • Nutrition Services
  • Social Emotional Well-Being of Students

Note: There is not a CAPP Award for each category.

Application

On January 19, 2022, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond provided a letter to County and District Superintendents, Charter School Administrators, and School Principals containing information about the 2022 California Pivotal Practice Award Program.

District superintendents, charter school administrators, and school principals that would like to apply to be recognized as a 2022 CAPP Awardee must have submitted a completed 2022 CAPP Application (Online Survey), by 4 p.m. Friday, February 11, 2022.

IMPORTANT! Each CAPP Application contains a documentation component that must be uploaded into the Application. Local educational agencies can print a copy of the Application to collect information for submission. It is recommended that you collect information and complete the documentation component prior to beginning the Application.

California Pivotal Practice Districts Application (Online Survey) [Note: this survey is no longer available]

California Pivotal Practice Schools Application (Online Survey) [Note: this survey is no longer available]

If you have any questions regarding completing the Application, please contact your Distinguished Schools (DS) County Coordinator. DS County Coordinator information is available on the CDE California School Recognition Program County Coordinator web page.

Information about the 2022 CAPP Awardees can be found on the CDE CAPP District Awardees 2022 and CAPP School Awardees 2022 web pages.

Note: The CSRP uses the CDE California School Directory for county, district, and school names on awardee lists and award recognitions.

Timeline of Activities

Date Activity
January 19, 2022
2022 CAPP Applications announcement and posting.
February 11, 2022
2022 CAPP Applications due date.
April 26, 2022
2022 CAPP Awardees announced.

Sponsors

We are thankful for our CSRP Sponsors who help to make the California Pivotal Practice Program a success! The CSRP would not be successful without the generous support they provide. We appreciate their willingness to support our efforts to recognize California's exemplary schools, teachers, and classified school employees, for achievement and for advancing excellence in education.

A sponsorship in the CSRP is a commitment to an ongoing partnership with public education by helping ensure that the dream of a world-class public education lives on in California.

Resources

California Pivotal Practice District Awardees 2022
California Pivotal Practice Districts Awardees for 2022.

California Pivotal Practice School Awardees 2022
California Pivotal Practice Schools Awardees for 2022.

California School Recognition Program Awards Ceremonies
Information about the California School Recognition Program Awards Ceremonies.

California School Recognition Program County Coordinators
Contact information for California School Recognition Program county office of education coordinators.

California School Recognition Program Merchandise
Information about California School Recognition Program merchandise.

Questions: Awards Unit | awards@cde.ca.gov | 916-319-0842 
Last Reviewed: Thursday, February 29, 2024