An internal committee from the Riley Institute’s Center for Education Policy Leadership review all applications and select 8-10 programs for consideration by the larger WhatWorksSC Awards Selection Committee.

The confidential committee comprising five highly regarded state and national education experts closely evaluates semifinalists based on effectiveness as demonstrated by a grounding in evidence-based best practices; local evidence of impact; or infrastructure for program sustainability, including resource allocation and partnerships. Judges score each semifinalist against a rubric. A winner and two finalists are selected based on overall scores.

Previous award winners are eligible for consideration when 10 years have passed since receiving the award; for example, the winner of the 2013 award may apply again in the 2024 cycle.

Previous finalists are eligible for consideration when five years have passed since placing for an award; for example, the winner of the 2018 award may apply again in the 2024 cycle.

Yes. For example, Teacher Fellows and Teacher Cadets are two separate programs operated by the Center for Educator Recruitment, Retention, and Advancement; they won the Award in 2011 and 2015, respectively.

Any program that is currently under evaluation by the Riley Institute’s research team is NOT eligible for the WhatWorksSC Award.

During the application window, a form will be available and linked above on this webpage. Applications open each spring and finalist selections are made in early summer.

There is an online application for the WhatWorksSC Award that must be completed. If available, we also ask that you please upload one supporting document, such as an annual report, logic model, or an evaluation report as an attachment for review. This piece of information will strengthen the application.

When we say, “evidence-based programs and practices,” we’re talking about the research—nationally, locally, or within your program—that proves these strategies work​. Ideal applicants should include data or cite studies that draw a clear line between the research, the practices, and the outcomes for student impact.

Yes. Research studies showing that the type of work you are doing has benefits, along with evidence of your program’s fidelity to that model is sufficient (e.g., you may cite a research study that demonstrates that physical fitness improves academic performance and draw links to your program).

We do require that you have some clearly articulated measures of success and evidence of impact, and that these are shared as part of the application.

The WhatWorksSC winner and finalists are honored at a statewide lunch event held in Columbia in the fall. The winner receives a $10,000 cash prize. Finalists also receive cash prizes, and all three top honorees receive a promotional video produced by SCETV (a $5,000 value), as well as 10 hours of in-kind consulting services from the Riley Institute’s research and evaluation team.