Awardees
Awardees
The 2023 Yass Prize Winner!
Valiant Cross Academy
Congratulations to Valiant Cross Academy, the 2023 Yass Prize $1 Million Winner! Located in downtown Montgomery, Alabama, Valiant Cross Academy sits just across from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s church – a symbolic inspiration driving the school’s commitment to fostering success for its all-Black male students through faith and academic rigor.
The 2023 Finalists
2023 Yass Prize Semifinalists
Meet the 33 Semifinalists selected for the 2023 Yass Prize
Other State Initiatives
Responding in real time to policy opportunities as well as challenges.
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Alabama Aerospace and Aviation High School
Bessemer, AL
AloeVR
National
Arizona Autism Charter Schools
Phoenix, AZ
Arkansas Lighthouse Charter Schools
North Little Rock, AR
ASU Preparatory Global
Tempe, AZ
Atlanta Unbound
Atlanta, GA
Atlas Public Schools
St. Louis, MO
Austin Achieve Public Schools
Austin, TX
Be More Colorful
Fargo, ND & National
Bill of Rights Institute
National
Black Mothers Forum
Phoenix, AZ
Black Pastors United for Education
Harrisburg, PA
Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater San Diego
San Diego, CA
Brilla Public Charter Schools – Paterson
Paterson, NJ
Brooklyn STEAM Center
Brooklyn, NY
Brookstone School
Charlotte, NC
Brothers Liberating our Communities
Kansas City, MO
Build UP
Birmingham, AL
Burbrella Learning Academy
Burlington, NC
Capital Prep Schools
Bridgeport, CT
CARE Elementary School
Miami, FL
Career Academy of the Palm Beaches
West Palm Beach, FL
Catalyst Academy Public Charter School
Pittsburgh, PA
Center for Creative Education
West Palm Beach, FL
Charleston Classical School
North Charleston, SC
Chesapeake Bay Academy
Virginia Beach, VA
Chickasaw City Schools
Chickasaw, AL
City on a Hill Christian Academy
Fairmont, WV
Class Equity
National
Coded by Kids
Philadelphia, PA
Colēgia, by Academica
Miami, FL
Coleman A. Young II Educational Foundation
Detroit, MI
College Achieve Public Charter Schools (CAPS)
Tinton Falls, NJ
Colossal Academy
Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Comp Sci High
Bronx, NY
CREATE Conservatory
Mount Dora, FL
Cristo Rey Network
National
Da Vinci RISE High
El Segundo, CA
Dallas Education Foundation
Dallas, TX
Detroit Achievement Academy
Detroit, MI
DreamHouse ‘Ewa Beach Public Charter School
Kapolei, HI
Durham Charter School
Durham, NC
Edily
San Francisco, CA
Edwins Leadership and Restaurant Institute
Cleveland, OH
Empower Community High School
Aurora, CO
Engaged Detroit
Detroit, MI
Esperanza Academy Charter School
Philadelphia, PA
Expert IEP
National
Families Empowered
Houston, TX
Father Judge High School
Philadelphia, PA
Friendship Public Charter School
Washington, DC
Fugees Family, Inc.
National
Full STEAM Forward
National
G-Star School of the Arts, Inc
West Palm Beach, FL
Gem Innovation Schools of Idaho
Deary, ID
Gentlemen’s League
Memphis, TN
GlobalED Solutions, Inc/PBC
Pueblo, CO
Goodwill Excel Center
Memphis, TN
Gordon Bernell Charter School
Albuquerque, NM
Great Hearts America Microschools
Phoenix, AZ
Great Oaks Foundation
New York, NY
Heritage Academy Public Charter School
Jerome, ID
Herring Gut Coastal Science Center
Port Clyde, ME
HOPE Ranch Learning Academy
Hudson, FL
I Dream Public Charter School
Washington, DC
Indi-ED
St. Petersburg, FL
Jackson Hole Classical Academy
Jackson, WY
Jumoke Academy Charter School
Hartford, CT
Kaimuki Middle School
Honolulu, HI
KaiPod Learning
Boston, MA
Kairos Academies
St. Louis, MO
Kind Academy
Coral Springs, FL
Lab51 – One Stone
Boise, Idaho
Lancaster Science Factory
Lancaster, PA
Latitude Learning Resources
Derry, NH
Launch Expeditionary Learning Charter School
Brooklyn, NY
Leaders to Legends
Omaha, NE
Leading Little Arrows
Arlington, TX
Libertas School of Memphis
Memphis, TN
LiFT Learning
Bristol, VT
Living School
New Orleans, LA
Logos Academy
York, PA
Louisiana Key Academy
Baton Rouge, LA
Lutheran Urban Mission Initiative, Inc. (LUMIN)
Multiple cities, WI
Madrona Folk School
Grant Pass, OR
MAP Academy
Plymouth, MA
Maryville Academy
Des Plaines, IL
Milwaukee College Prep
Milwaukee, WI
Mission Achievement and Success Charter School
Albuquerque, NM
Modern States Education Alliance
National
Mountaineer Homeschool Hub
Morgantown, WV
National Fellowship for Black and Latino Male Educators
National
National Microschooling Center
Las Vegas, NV
Neighborhood Schools
Houston, TX
New Testament Christian Academy
Milwaukee, WI
New Way Global
Greenville, SC
Northern Cass School District
Hunter, ND
Oakmont Education
Akron, OH
Odyssey
Washington, DC
Odyssey Charter School
Wilmington, DE
End of Awardees
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The Yass Prize process has created an awareness of the education freedom movement within churches and communities.
It's given us an opportunity to start critical discussions with our congregations, parents, community leaders and members, about the laws that govern education in Pennsylvania.
The Yass Prize is centered around ensuring that this [program] provides you a stepping stone...
We don’t want you to rinse, wash, repeat. We want you to build and sustain.
Being a part of this experience has amplified the access we can give to our students in a way that nothing has, and the access is just critical.
The Yass Prize is almost like Burning Man for education reform.
There is absolutely zero downside to being a part of this network by submitting your application and what you will encounter is unlike any other grant.
It's actually mind blowing. I really see myself as an education entrepreneur, but this expanded me.
Education is one of the most fundamental pillars for democratizing opportunities for success that we have in our society.
It’s thanks to organizations like the Yass Prize that our children are going to have a better tomorrow.
I'm a Yass Prize finalist from last year.
And through that, we were able to open up our second campus in the city of Wichita.
Being a part of the [Yass] family confirmed that what I'm doing is right,
going against the common core and focusing on what we know is important for kids really works, and having a network of people now that also agree was super huge.
When we follow the money, it’s ludicrous how this country is getting away with funding education.
The funding is not following children. We're trying to make better options for kids, for poor kids, middle class kids. Wealthy people have this choice, they opt out of their systems easily, why shouldn't all children have that choice?
In a state where alternative education is often overlooked, the Yass community helps us shine.
The Yass Prize has empowered our youth, families and community by bringing great visibility to our efforts.
I’m dreaming bigger, bolder, and more bodacious [because of the Yass Prize].
It has helped me raise the ceiling on what’s possible.
Everyone knows that without great education, our nation suffers.
Great education is a vital link for students to become successful citizens.
It might be the first time you’re speaking where everyone is actually listening and cares about what you’re doing.
I don’t think I’ve been in a room as supportive as the Yass Prize Semifinalist room in Miami.