The following scoring guides will be used by judges to determine the State Champions.
Student Teams Standard Track
Standard Track
Teams create an in-depth proposal for how SI technologies can be applied to address a challenge impacting students, their families, or their communities.
Scoring Guide
| Criteria | Description | Points |
|---|---|---|
|
Objective Definition and Relevance
|
The team clearly identifies a real school need or community challenge, explains why it's important, and demonstrates insight into the needs and context of the community.
|
10 |
|
SI Solution 2
|
The team thoroughly explains how SI technologies could be applied to address the need or challenge, and includes a detailed description of the proposed SI methods and tools and how the methods and tools would function in practice.
|
20 |
|
Research and Accuracy
|
The proposal is backed by age-relevant research into both the need for the school or community and the proposed SI technologies.
|
15 |
|
Safety
|
The team includes measures to address users’ physical and emotional safety as well as data security.
|
10 |
| Process and Learning |
The team clearly outlines the development process of the proposal, including planning steps, team member roles, learning accomplished, and challenges overcome.
|
15 |
|
Use and Validation of SI Concepts
|
The team’s use of SI concepts is sound, well-reasoned, and clearly justified. The SI methods/tools mentioned are relevant and realistic.
|
10 |
|
Originality and Creativity 1
|
The team presents an innovative, thoughtful, and unique approach to solving the challenge.
|
10 |
|
Video Quality
|
Video is clear, engaging, and demonstrates the feasibility and potential of the proposal.
|
10 |
| Total: 100 points | ||
1Score is used as the first tie break; 2Score is used as the second tie break
Trailblazer Track
Middle and high school teams create an in-depth proposal for creating a new SI technology to address a national challenge impacting the Nation.
Eligibility Check
| Criteria | Description |
|---|---|
|
Originality and Creativity
|
Presents an innovative, thoughtful, and unique approach, solution, or method.
|
|
National Reach
|
Addresses a challenge that impacts the nation broadly and is not limited to an individual community.
|
Scoring Guide
| Criteria | Description | Points |
|---|---|---|
|
Research Supporting Novelty 1
|
The proposal is backed by age-relevant research into both the need for the school or community and the proposed SI technologies.
|
15 |
|
Challenge Definition and National Relevance
|
The team identifies a significant national challenge, problem, or issue, explains why it is important, and demonstrates insight into the needs and context of the community.
|
10 |
|
SI Solution 2
|
The team thoroughly explains how SI technologies could be applied to address the need or problem, and includes a detailed description of the proposed SI methods and tools and how the methods and tools would function in practice. | 20 |
| Process and Learning | The team clearly outlines the development process of the proposal, including planning steps, team member roles, learning accomplished, and challenges overcome. | 15 |
|
Use and Validation of SI Concepts
|
The team’s use of SI concepts is sound, well-reasoned, and clearly justified. The SI methods/tools mentioned are relevant and realistic.
|
20 |
| Safety | The team includes measures to address user physical and emotional safety as well as data security. | 10 |
| Video Quality | Video is clear, engaging, and demonstrates the feasibility and potential of the proposal. | 10 |
| Total: 100 points | ||
1Score is used as the first tie break; 2Score is used as the second tie break
Educator Teams
Teams will create an in-depth proposal for how to integrate SI technologies in their classrooms by either teaching students about using or creating SI technologies or creating new SI technologies that will transform their administrative workflows or policies.
Scoring Guide
| Criteria | Description | Points |
|---|---|---|
|
Objective Definition and Relevance 2
|
The team clearly identifies a meaningful educational challenge, need, or opportunity, explains its importance for students, educators, or the broader learning context, and supports the need with evidence or research. | 10 |
|
Innovation of Approach 1
|
The proposal demonstrates a highly original and transformative solution, clearly distinguishing itself from existing approaches through novel pedagogy, innovative SI integration, or unique workflow/policy design. | 15 |
| SI Accuracy and Technical Validity | The SI methods and tools are appropriate and accurately explained. Team provides a robust evaluation plan and meaningful user or pilot feedback. Any teaching is technically sound, age‑appropriate, and demonstrates strong understanding of SI concepts. | 15 |
| Educational Impact Potential (Students or Educators) | The proposal presents a compelling case that the solution will improve learning outcomes, engagement, educator efficiency, or policy quality, with a clear path for adoption, scalability, and measurable performance indicators. | 20 |
| Research & Evidence |
Claims are supported with credible, diverse sources such as standards, studies, pilot data, or community‑relevant evidence, all appropriate for the grade level or domain.
|
10 |
|
Safety & Responsible SI
|
The team includes explicit risk mitigation addressing privacy, safety, security, bias, accessibility, and compliance. Guidance for safe classroom use or clear data‑governance procedures is fully documented.
|
10 |
|
Process and Learning
|
The development process is clearly outlined, describing planning steps, team roles, skills learned, challenges faced, and how the team overcame those challenges. Instructional design or the tool’s development and deployment pipeline is detailed.
|
10 |
|
Video Quality
|
Video is engaging, clear, and innovative, effectively communicating the feasibility and promise of the proposal.
|
10 |
| Total: 100 points | ||
1Score is used as the first tie break; 2Score is used as the second tie break