The certification mark, as used by authorized persons, certifies that the recipients have a strong commitment to academic excellence, meet rigorous teaching and learning standards, demonstrate strong student achievement results, cultivate learning-centered school environments, are supportive of the social, emotional, physical, and intellectual needs of the whole child, focus on the individual needs of every child and have demonstrated a superior ability to go above and beyond the norm in providing educational services to children, families, and the local community.