In 1998, the Georgia School Boards Association was one of the first school board associations in the nation to develop a program of standards for local boards of education. Because the Georgia Board of Education adopted a set of state standards for local boards of education in 2011, GSBA has revised its recognition program to reflect the state standards and also to offer school boards additional ways to increase their effectiveness. QUALITY BOARD RECOGNITION applications must be submitted by October 1, 2016. Similar information is provided for Distinguished and Exemplary Board recognitions on the GSBA website. Boards seeking Distinguished and Exemplary Status MUST first earn the QUALITY BOARD RECOGNITION.