ABOUT
About
STOP for Education operates on four core principles—Sustainable, Transformational, Outstanding, and Permissionless education—working to shape policy change and drive positive outcomes for every child.
The most effective learning environments stem from state policies that give educators wide latitude to prioritize and support student needs. To this end, we are devoted to fueling, connecting, and accelerating education leaders recognized for their commitment to the STOP principles, who together represent a microcosm of the country’s most exceptional and entrepreneurial education providers.
Powered by the Center for Education Reform since 2021, the Yass Prize celebrates and rewards new education innovators each year that are dedicated to the STOP principles, as well as outstanding alumni who are expanding their transformational impact to more students and communities
What is the Yass Prize?
The Yass Prize is viewed as the “Pulitzer for Education Innovation”—devoted to identifying and elevating the next generation of education changemakers. Through generous financial support as well as essential connectivity and knowledge-sharing, founders Janine and Jeff Yass aim to empower organizations that give students not only education, but also dignity, value, and a sense of family.
Reach & Impact
Yass Prize awardees are changing the face of education in the states and communities they serve, impacting not only students and families but influencing the course of public policy as well.
Building a Movement
In addition to transformational financial support, Yass Prize cohort members participate in an accelerator bootcamp, honing their business plans with support from the best, boldest, and brightest of business, education innovation, policy, and more. Accelerator members are not just learning—they’re joining an exclusive, highimpact community, and the relationships formed in the room will push cohort members to new heights, offering collaboration opportunities, mentorship, and a lasting network that fuels their growth for years to come.
The STOP Principles
Sustainable
The core pillar that holds up the rest, Sustainability ensures a provider is able to exist without continual philanthropy, instead utilizing public dollars that fund entities where students are learning, or taking significant and impressive actions on the local, state, or national level for funds to follow students. Education organizations can also be sustained by creating innovative and reliable revenue streams (like sales of products or services and/or partnering with others to support students) so that they do not have to depend on philanthropy.
Transformational
What does it take to truly transform learning for students? There’s a wealth of new approaches, tools, and understanding about what works since our current education system was created, enabling us to better serve students in highly individualized, responsive, and personalized ways. Schools and providers are transformational when they utilize these 21st Century assets to modify the learning environment and/or use a tried-and-true approach more rigorously.
Outstanding
Through the demand of the students and families they serve and the day-today outcomes shown through retention, test scores, activities, and awards, truly outstanding education providers are able to demonstrate their success. But the ultimate measure of success is students who are consistently persistent, moving on to the next grade or school, and entering productive careers or higher education pathways.
Permissionless
Education that is free to exist and thrive without depending on regulatory bodies is permissionless. It means the ability to make decisions about what you do, and how you do it—whether you’re a founder, teacher, parent, or student—without asking for someone else’s approval. Providers that are true to the concept of permissionless education boldly execute on what they know to be right, rather than waiting for a green light from a person or entity.
Meet the Yass Prize Founders
For more than 25 years, the Yass’ have dedicated their time, their intellect and their resources to creating excellent schools for parents to have meaningful choices. But when the Covid crisis revealed and magnified the vast inequities that surround a majority of our students, they pivoted to a more impactful way to spend their resources to speed up the pace of improving student lives.
“We have recognized the incredible heroism of healthcare and front line workers who went above and beyond during COVID,” Janine said to Jeff during the crisis, “but look at all the heroes in education who served the underserved with in-person or quality virtual education students despite the challenges. We should recognize them, too,” she said.
Janine’s passion for education opportunity for all students sparked the creation of the Yass Prize and the STOP Awards Initiative. Moving from reform to transform, Janine’s vision is fueling a new renaissance in education, based on the premise that every parent deserves the ability to provide their students with individualized, 21st century education opportunities offered in supportive environments alongside their peers. Read her Forbes article, “Why This Philanthropist Decided To Make A Significant Change In Giving Philosophy” about Janine’s philosophy and what drives she and Jeff to invest in innovative education providers.
