GVSU CSO Core Values Award
At the GVSU Charter Schools Office, the primary focus is to understand complex problems in the GVSU network of schools, facilitating the design of solutions, and advancing remarkable change in teaching and learning. Our mission, vision, and strategic outcomes reflect the university's five core values. These core values, which are part of the GVSU’s Reach Higher Strategic Plan, provide a foundation and framework for all Grand Valley Charter Schools’ Office decision-making processes. The core values are:
- Inquiry
- Inclusive and Equitable Community
- Innovation
- Integrity
- International Perspectives
To recognize, highlight, and celebrate the efforts of the GVSU network of schools to advance achievement of these core values, the GVSU Charter Schools Office presents a Core Value Award to a school whose program, project, practice, or other initiative best demonstrates advancement of a particular core value.
2024 Winner: Detroit Achievement Academy
One of the winners of the 2024 Core Value Award for Integrity was Detroit Achievement Academy for their Habits of Character standards.
The school breaks character traits into observable, communicable and kid-friendly standards that hold students and staff accountable in our weekly student reflections, our student-led conferences, our grading systems, and our behavior management practices. Students reflect weekly on their progress towards these traits. They submit self-reflections to their teacher, who provides real-time feedback and action steps on their scores. The data for these can be viewed by administrators, support staff, parents, and families as applicable. The final scores are agreed upon between students and their teachers and entered into the gradebook as Character scores. Students report on their Habits of Character growth and performance scores to their families during our bi-annual student-led conferences.
Students who show outstanding performance in their character habits are nominated as “Light Leaders.” Light Leaders consistently role model appropriate behavior, honesty in their interactions with others, respect the rules, and promote fairness. The Light Leaders meet once a week to help coordinate school community activities, practice facilitating tours, brainstorm ideas to keep school space beautiful, and plan for Better World Day.
2024 Winner: The Greenspire School
The other winner of the 2024 Core Value Award for Integrity was The Greenspire School for their student ambassador program.
At Greenspire, student ambassadors are selected each year based on academic standing and consistent positive behavior. Those who are selected to be ambassadors promote a positive and accurate image of the school to the greater community and assist in helping the school achieve its vision. Student ambassadors are responsible for providing tours to families and guests, acting as a guide for prospective students who sit in on school classes during “Fake a Day” afternoons, and assist with key community promotion events. Student ambassadors are also tasked with supporting fellow students by encouraging others to show respect in all aspects of school life, to listen with intentionality rather than just waiting to respond, and to honor each other’s thoughts, wishes and words.
Application Details
The application window for the 2025 Core Values Award will open in the fall.
Eligibility and Requirements
The Awards Program is open to any GVSU-authorized charter school. Applications must be submitted by school boards, on behalf of the school.
- Only one submission per school is allowed.
- Academic performance of the school meets or exceeds the authorizing contract goals, based on the last set of statewide testing data.
- Fiscal and compliance performance of the school meets or exceeds standards, as reported in the most recent School Performance Report.
- CSO reserves the right to rescind any awards granted to an applicant who provided false or fraudulent application information.
- CSO reserves the exclusive right to interpret information submitted and determine awards without claim for damage or recourse of any kind.
Award Selection and Benefits
Award winners are selected by an independent panel of reviewers that will consider applications and evidence submitted in support for the award category. The award category for 2024 is Integrity, for school initiatives that actively pursue and sustain quality educational experiences rooted in research and evidence.
Winning the award comes with many benefits, including:
- Award plaque, to be prominently displayed in the school.
- Award recipient information, to be included on the CSO website, newsletter, etc.
- Monetary grant of $5,000, which may be used to support student enrichment, professional development, or other purchases to support your school (funds will be added to your next academic grant award).
- Other recognition, at the discretion of the CSO.
Previous Winners
- 2023: Covenant Schools Detroit (Inclusive and Equitable Community)
- 2022: The Greenspire School -- (Innovation)