(1) (a) Subject to available appropriations, the state board shall annually present an award to the public high school that demonstrates the highest levels of student academic growth within each classification. The awards presented pursuant to this section must be in the form of trophies that resemble the trophies presented for athletic accomplishments. The technical advisory panel convened pursuant to section 22-11-202 shall recommend to the state board, and the state board shall establish by rule, the method by which to identify the public high schools that demonstrate the highest rate of student longitudinal growth in one or more school years, as measured by the Colorado growth model.

(b) The awards issued pursuant to this section are named for each classification and known as the academic growth award for that classification.

(2) Notwithstanding any provision of this part 6 to the contrary, of any moneys that the department may receive pursuant to section 22-11-605 (1) in the form of public or private gifts, grants, or donations, in the 2014-15 budget year and each budget year thereafter, the department shall use up to one thousand five hundred dollars to award trophies pursuant to this section. The department shall apportion the remainder of the moneys available for awards as provided in sections 22-11-602, 22-11-603, and 22-11-603.5.

(3) As used in this section, "classification" means the grouping of schools established biennially by the statewide association for high school activities for the sport of football.