The Riverside County Office of Education was honored in the 24th Annual Golden Bell Awards Program of the California School Boards Association (CSBA).

The award was won in the “Professional Development and Collaboration to Improve Student and Teacher Success” category for the work of the Riverside County Achievement Teams (RCAT). Dr. David Long, Riverside County Superintendent of Schools and creator of the RCAT program, accepted the award on behalf of RCOE.

The highly respected Golden Bell Awards were presented at a special ceremony during CSBA’s Awards Luncheon at the San Diego Marriott Hotel and Marina on December 13.

The event was held in conjunction with the CSBA’s Annual Education Conference.

RCAT was formed five years ago to help Riverside County schools meet goals set by the state’s rigorous accountability program. The teams include experts in instruction, testing, curriculum, administration, and other educational areas who help local schools devise and implement plans to improve student achievement. RCATs have become a state and national model for improving student achievement.

The CSBA Golden Bell Awards Program promotes excellence in education by recognizing outstanding programs in school districts and county offices of education throughout California. The Golden Bell Awards reflect the depth and breadth of the education programs necessary to address students’ changing needs. The goal of this awards program is to contribute to the development and evaluation of curriculum, instruction, and support services.

CSBA is a nonprofit association representing more than 1,000 K-12 school districts and county offices of education throughout California.