The Schools of Opportunity project gives annual "gold" and "silver" recognition to schools in the
United States. The project seeks to recognize those high schools that follow practices such as supporting students' physical and
psychological health, having outreach to the community, and having a broad, enriched curriculum. It is built on criteria set forth in the 2013 book, Closing the Opportunity Gap. The Schools of Opportunity project believes that high quality schools are those that use research-based practices, and that
standardized testing mainly reflects the student's learning opportunities outside of school; therefore,the project does not primarily evaluate schools based on effectiveness as measured by standardized test scores. That is, the project illustrates an alternative to ranking systems based on test score, which have been criticized for favoring schools serving more advantaged student populations. Schools submit initial applications explaining and documenting why they should be recognized with a reward. Then, after two online reviews and one school visit, the gold and silver recognitions are announced. In order to qualify for recognition, the school must be a public or charter school; it must enroll high school students; at least 10% of the school must qualify for
free or reduced-price lunch; the percentage of students with
Individualized Education Programs must not fall 2 or more points below the district where the school is located; the school must commit to ensuring all students have access to rich, challenging but supported learning opportunities; and it must be committed to non-exclusionary
discipline practices. While designated Schools of Opportunity do not receive extra funding, the directors of the project hope for them to serve as role models for other peers. == Origins ==