Awards & Recognition
Recognizing outstanding efforts in Ethnic Studies implementation and cultural competency!
Champion Awards
One of APISBMA's core missions is to empower school board members to address the diverse needs of students.
APISBMA Awards aim to recognize outstanding efforts in Ethnic Studies implementation and cultural competency. These awards aim to create success models for others to follow and improve outcomes for our students.
Award Categories
Application Details
Application Deadline
The applications open in September and close in October. Check this website for application links when available.
Award Notification
Awardees will be notified by November 1st.
Award Ceremony
Awards Ceremony will be held during the APISBMA Breakfast at the Annual Educational Conference of the California School Boards Association (CSBA) generally in December. Awarded programs will be showcased and receive a small grant.
Tickets
Tickets for the APISBMA Breakfast at CSBA AEC must be purchased in advance to participate in the ceremony.
Award Winners
Congratulations to winners of the APISBMA Awards. These school districts have championed Ethnic Studies, cultural awareness and empathy. Their efforts have fostered a greater appreciation of diverse perspectives and we are honored to help continue their efforts.
2025 APISBMA Champion Award Winners
We are pleased to announce our three winners for this year, who will be recognized at the 2025 CSBA Annual Education Conference. We sincerely thank our generous sponsors, Liebert Cassidy Whitmore, Lozano Smith, and eKadence, for providing the grants that made these awards possible.
2025 Ethnic Studies Champion
Berkeley Unified School District
About the BUSD Ethnic Studies Program
Berkeley Unified School District (BUSD) has a long-standing commitment to Ethnic Studies, beginning in 1968 with the establishment of the nation’s first high school African American Studies Department. Today, the district continues this leadership through a comprehensive TK–12 Ethnic Studies initiative supported by general funds, the Berkeley Schools Excellence Program, and Educator Effectiveness Grant resources. In 2024–25, BUSD piloted six new Ethnic Studies units across grades 3, 4, 5, 8, and 9, all of which received highly positive feedback from students, teachers, and families. The district also hosted an Ethnic Studies Showcase highlighting student work, community partnerships, and contributions from local BIPOC leaders. While implementation has progressed successfully, BUSD notes challenges related to simultaneous adoption of new literacy and science curricula, requiring ongoing training and support for teachers. Building on its historic foundation, the district continues to expand development of new units, currently spanning grades 3–9, with plans to complete TK–2 materials and deepen its high school Ethnic Studies course offerings.
Q: How did the community respond to the new units?
Feedback from students, families, and educators was overwhelmingly positive, with strong engagement and consistent ratings of 3s and 4s on 4-point scales. Educators shared powerful testimonials about students feeling represented in the curriculum. The district also held an Ethnic Studies Showcase with student panels, featured community leaders, and public sharing of student work.
“BUSD has been a national leader since 1968, maintaining the only standalone African American Studies Department at a public high school. A 9th grade Ethnic Studies graduation requirement was established in 1990, and a districtwide Ethnic Studies Teacher on Special Assignment was added in 2021 to support TK–12 curriculum development.”
2025 Ethnic Studies Champion
Santa Barbara Unified School District
About the SBUSD Ethnic Studies Program
Santa Barbara Unified School District (SBUSD) has built a comprehensive Ethnic Studies program since launching two pilot 9th-grade courses in 2019, supported by AB 101, Title II, Educator Effectiveness funds, community grants, and general fund resources. Over five years, the district has expanded to five stand-alone high school Ethnic Studies courses and is working toward districtwide infusion in grades 7–8, supported by more than 40 participating teachers. Student feedback has been consistently positive, with more than 92% course satisfaction across all racial and ethnic groups. SBUSD also holds an annual Ethnic Studies Celebration, reflecting strong community partnership and student engagement. While the district faces challenges—including political opposition to equity work, limited qualified staffing, and the need for sustainable funding—it continues to expand offerings, including exploration of California Native Peoples and AAPI Studies courses, and is finalizing an Ethnic Studies Framework
aligned with district and state guidance.
Q: What expansion efforts are underway?
SBUSD is developing Ethnic Studies infusion in junior high (grades 7–8) across multiple subjects and exploring stand-alone courses in California Native Peoples Studies and Asian American & Pacific Islander Studies. Teachers are engaging in learning with local Chumash leaders and contributing to UCLA’s AAPIMT multimedia textbook project.
“SBUSD began with two pilot courses in fall 2019 and now offers five high school courses: English 9 Ethnic Studies, English 10 Mexican American Literature, Ethnic & Social Justice Studies, Chicanx & Latinx Studies (US History-qualified), and History of Africans in America (US History-qualified).”
2025 Civic Engagement Champion
Anaheim Union High School District’s 'Civic Leadership and Learning Institute'
About the Civic Leadership Learning Institute
The Anaheim Union High School District (AUHSD) Civic Leadership and Learning Institute is a comprehensive, district-wide initiative designed to institutionalize civic education within the core of school culture and curriculum. Rather than functioning as a single course, the program focuses on building student agency and preparing all students for participation in democracy through active, real-world engagement. Through extensive professional development and a strong emphasis on student voice, thousands of students participate in authentic civic action, engage in Soapbox speeches, lead community projects, and earn the State Seal of Civic Engagement, the most of any district statewide. AUHSD stands today as the first California Democracy District, serving as a model of real-world engagement, student-centered practices, and community partnership.
Q: How are teachers supported in this work?
Hundreds of teachers complete a three-day Civic Leadership and Learning Institute, gaining tools and resources to embed civic learning in their classrooms. Each semester, more teachers become equipped in this work and share promising practices with one another and back at their home sites, contributing to consistent implementation districtwide.
“The primary goal is to prepare students for full and active participation in
American democracy, ensuring they are ready for college, career, and citizenship
in the 21st century.“
2024 APISBMA Champion Award Winners
2024 Ethnic Studies Champion
Hacienda La Puente Unified School District
About the HLPUSD Ethnic Studies Program
In the 2024-25 school (in the 3rd year of implementation) HLPUSD currently has 19 sections of Ethnic Studies classes taught by 9 different teachers with four separate course offerings:
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Intersectional Ethnic Studies
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ELA 10 w/ ES
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Spanish 3 H w/ ES
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History of film w/ ES
Currently 548 students enrolled.
They have worked to create their own course reader with engaging articles, developed new innovative pedagogical approaches through rigorous training of teachers, and implemented Youth Participatory Action Research Projects which led 202 of their seniors to earn the CA State Seal of Civic Engagement last year.
Student surveys showed Ethnic Studies classes had a positive impact, with 82% of students reporting improved self-understanding, preparation for diverse environments, and advocacy skills, while also recommending the course to others. Teachers praised the program and encouraged its growth. Since implementation, graduation rates rose for Hispanic students (7%) and English Learners (12%), suspension rates decreased, and students reported better attendance, focus, and school engagement.
Q: Do you have a committee review of feedback and courses?
A: The Ethnic Studies Curriculum Committee now has a social studies, ELA, and Spanish committee where groups of teachers are supporting with the expansion of unit plans and lesson plans and deepening our resources so that teachers new to teaching ES will have a lot to pull from. We are continuing to work with our Ethnic Studies Learning Partnership which in our first year consisted of parents, community members, students, teachers and staff to provide ongoing input and feedback on the program.
“Ethnic Studies support is written into the new LCAP that was recently adopted by the School Board.”
Celebrations and challenges in implementation
With the support of Cal State LA, HLPUSD has partnered with 4 neighboring districts to create a TK-12 Professional Learning Community through the Sal Castro Academy which meets monthly to learn about Ethnic Studies curriculum implementation together. HLPUSD also has a partnership with the University of California Irvine History Project, the Cesar Chavez Foundation for K-5 Ethnic Studies curriculum and Get Lit Words Ignite for Ethnic Studies integration in ELA classes. A key challenge is securing external funding to support program growth, maintaining district office staff to support training that teachers need, and creating both new curriculum and pedagogical approaches with all grade levels and specifically with the Ethnic Studies titled courses that will meet the requirements of AB101.
2024 Cultural Empathy Champion
About the Vietnamese & Spanish Dual Language Immersion Program
Over the past decade, Westminster School District has implemented award-winning Vietnamese and Spanish Dual Language Immersion programs, recognized by two CABE Seal of Excellence Awards in 2023. The district pioneered California’s first Vietnamese DLI program in 2015 at DeMille Elementary and expanded to include preschool and infant/toddler options, using a 50/50 instruction model. These programs embed cultural awareness and empathy into each unit of study, integrating lessons on cultural traditions and global perspectives.
(https://www.wsdk8.us/divisions/educational-services/speciality-programs/dual-language-programs)
Q: How do you evaluate the program?
A: Evaluated annually through a combination of academic assessments, language proficiency tests, and feedback from parents, students, and teachers. This includes analyzing student performance on state-mandated tests such as the CAASPP and ELPAC, as well as tracking students’ progress in both English and the target language (Vietnamese or Spanish) through formative and summative assessments.
"The emphasis on cultural awareness and empathy within the curriculum helps develop a more inclusive school environment. By engaging in culturally relevant lessons and community events, students develop a greater appreciation for diverse perspectives.”
2024 Outstanding Program
About the Living History: Day of Remembrance Program
The program was implemented in 2019 to foster cultural awareness and empathy among high school students by providing them with firsthand accounts of Japanese American internment during World War II. The program aimed to educate students about the historical injustices faced by Japanese Americans and inspire them to become agents of change in their communities. Further objectives include: Preserve the oral history of Japanese American survivors (ABC Unified has created video testimonials of the volunteer survivors).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyh935yBis0
"The goal of the program is to educate students about the historical context and experiences of Japanese American internment as survivors give first-hand accounts and help students connect the experience to current day examples."
Thank you to our sponsors—Lozano Smith, Liebert Cassidy Whitmore, and eKadence—for supporting this special opportunity to recognize the exemplary programs!
2023 APISBMA Champion Award Winners
2023 APISBMA Outstanding Ethnic Studies Implementation Award and Outstanding Ethnic Studies Community Partner Award
The APISBMA's Cultural Consciousness Committee recognized exceptional efforts in implementing California's new Ethnic Studies graduation requirement (AB 101) based on a comprehensive survey. The awardees, celebrated at a breakfast event, include:
Outstanding Ethnic Studies Implementation Awardees:
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Culver City Unified School District
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Hacienda La Puente Unified School District
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Fremont Union High School District
Outstanding Ethnic Studies Community Partner Awardees:
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UCLA Asian American Studies Center: Recognized for creating "Foundations and Futures: A Multimedia Textbook on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders," a free, comprehensive online textbook for high school and early college students.
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Anaheim Union High School District: Honored as the first school district in the U.S. to offer a high school-level Korean American Ethnic Studies course.