This year, ACT introduced the ACT Professional Learning and Growth Awards, which recognize districts for stand-out investment in professional development excellence, and significant student growth in ACT scores.
Three districts were honored at this year's ACT Regional Events in Arizona, Louisiana, and Oklahoma:
- Tanque Verde Unified School District
- St. Tammany Parish Public School System
- Sulphur Public Schools
Each district demonstrated significant improvement in student performance from earlier PreACT 8/9 or ACT Aspire benchmark assessments to 11th-grade ACT scores which these districts attributed to intentional professional learning directly impacting student success.
What the Award Recognizes
The ACT Professional Learning and Growth Award is grounded in two comprehensive phases of evaluation.
Measurable Student Growth
ACT data experts analyzed statewide public and charter school testing performance. Finalists were identified based on the greatest average growth in college readiness scores between earlier assessments (PreACT 8/9, PreACT, or ACT Aspire, depending on the state) and 11th-grade ACT results.
Commitment to Professional Learning
Finalists then detailed how their professional learning strategies strengthened instruction and contributed to student growth. Winning districts distinguished themselves through structured collaboration, data transparency, leadership investment, and sustained educator development.
Each winner receives:
- $2,500 in ACT Professional Development credits
- A $500 college-bound student scholarship
- A $500 workforce-bound student scholarship
Arizona: Tanque Verde Unified School District
In December 2025, Tanque Verde Unified School District became the first recipient of the award at the 2025 Arizona ACT Regional Summit held at Arizona State University.
Why TVUSD Stood Out
TVUSD demonstrated the greatest growth from 9th-grade ACT Aspire results to 11th-grade ACT scores. The district’s success is rooted in:
- Transparent data sharing
- Regular ACT practice testing
- Weekly ACT Professional Learning Community meetings
- Cross-disciplinary collaboration
- Monthly leadership walkthroughs
These systems foster a culture in which educators and students work together toward clear academic goals.
Superintendent Dr. Scott Hagerman added, “I am incredibly proud of the work we do every day to support our students. Our district's vision is a promise to our community to educate every student in an environment that promotes mastery, excellence and integrity.”
Louisiana: St. Tammany Parish Public School System
In January 2026, St. Tammany Parish Public School System was honored at the 2026 Louisiana ACT Regional Summit, with Melissa Langlois, assistant superintendent, accepting the award.
This district demonstrated the greatest average college readiness testing performance growth from 9th-grade PreACT 8/9 results to 11th-grade ACT scores.
A Leadership-Driven Approach
St. Tammany distinguished itself with its structured, districtwide ACT strategy:
- A collaborative District ACT Instructional Leadership Team composed of teacher leaders, curriculum specialists, and secondary supervisors
- Deep data analysis to identify strengths and opportunity areas
- Targeted action planning with the greatest potential impact on student success
- School-level, ACT-focused leadership teams
- Districtwide practice testing
- Professional development partnerships with ACT
This multilayered approach ensures goal alignment among educators, students, and families, turning assessment data into actionable performance improvement.
Oklahoma: Sulphur Public Schools
In February 2026, Sulphur Public Schools received the award at the 2026 Midwest ACT Regional Summit in Owasso, Oklahoma.
As with the other recipients, Sulphur demonstrated the greatest student performance growth from 10th-grade PreACT results to 11th-grade ACT scores, shining a light on their initiatives and strategies that enabled such an exceptional improvement over just a year.
Progressing from ‘Good to Great to Elite’
Sulphur’s success stems from a deeply embedded culture of collaboration and improvement:
- Strategic investment in ACT Instructional Mastery (AIM) certifications
- On-campus workshops and ACT-focused conferences
- Teacher-led professional learning and statewide presentations
- ACT benchmark-driven, data-informed instructional adjustments in real time
- Year-over-year growth tracking
- Celebrating ACT achievement with the same enthusiasm as athletics
Superintendent Matt Holder described the recognition as validation of years of strategic planning and belief in students and educators alike. “Sulphur Public Schools has been intentional about moving from good to great to elite. We are proud of the growth we’ve made, and even more excited about what’s ahead.”
Recognizing a National Growth Model
Though each district’s strategy reflects its unique community, common themes unite all three inaugural winners:
- Data-driven decision making
- Structured professional collaboration
- Leadership investment in educator growth
- Clear goal alignment from students
- Celebration of student achievement
The ACT Professional Learning and Growth Award highlights a powerful truth: when districts invest in educators, student outcomes follow.
As these districts continue building on their progress, they serve as an exemplary model for schools nationwide, demonstrating that sustained professional learning, paired with intentional strategy, transforms potential into measurable success.
ACT Regional Conferences for Professional Development
ACT’s Regional Conferences are designed to advance professional growth for educators and workforce professionals. Held nationwide, these thoughtfully curated events provide valuable opportunities to meet, share insights, and collaborate in an inclusive environment across different sectors.
Due to overwhelming interest, ACT has added new conferences for the upcoming season bringing the total to 14 events around the country, and expanding professional learning opportunities to thousands of participants. If you would like to present your strategies and success stories at an upcoming event, the calls for proposals are now open.
