The purpose of the student awards is to call attention to the outstanding published work of elementary students.

The application form may be completed by the teacher or a student. Please keep a copy for yourself and give a copy to your principal who will forward it to Cindy Doyle with the Education Foundation. Applications are welcome at any time, but for the award to be given as part of the Celebration Express, applications must be received by April 1 or November 1.

Elementary students whose published work has been judged a winning entry will receive a $100 savings bond from the Klein Education Foundation.

The criteria for selection are specified in the award application. The form is simplified to encourage elementary student submission. The awards will be given for original student work (prose, poetry, etc.) that is published in professional media including magazines, books, newspapers, and on professional journal and association (not personal) websites. Examples of acceptable, professional publications are: Merlyn’s Pen, Young Author’s Workshop, KidPub Publishing, Poetry Pals, Houston Chronicle, as well as state and national award booklets. Awards cannot be made for works that appear in “paid to be published” media (in order to be published the author is charged). Works published in school or KISD publications are also ineligible.

A committee of instructional personnel for the district along with directors serving on the “grants committee” of KISD Education Foundation will evaluate the applications. All applications will be assigned a number so that proposals appear anonymous to the committee.

If submissions are received before November 1 or April 1, the winning students will be visited by the Celebration Express at the same time teachers receive their grants. The Celebration Express is always a surprise, so winners and dates will not be announced in advance.