Awards
Awards
Congratulations to the 2025
Yass Prize Contenders
vying for the $1 million Yass Prize
Live from Forbes on Fifth in New York City, the Yass Prize contenders were revealed in a special livestream event on October 10th. After two rounds of rigorous evaluation by more than 500 judges, the contenders for the $1 million “Pulitzer of Education Innovation” will now have the opportunity to pitch at the Miami Accelerator, making the case for why they should be the 2025 winner and how they will expand their impact and ensure that more students gain access to the education they deserve.
More than just a prize, the Yass Prize is a movement—backed by mentorship, funding, and a powerful network—that champions the freedom to learn and the courage to reimagine what education can be.
Meet the 2025 Yass Prize Contenders
Meet the Texas Education Freedom Award Winners
Located in Florida and Arizona and growing rapidly, Primer Microschools ignites a love for learning in small, community-driven environments.
2024 Yass Prize Winner:
Primer Microschools
Yass Prize alumni were awarded funding to position them to launch or expand innovative school models in 2026—meeting the needs of even more Texas students.
Meet the 2024 Yass Prize Finalists
Yass Award for
Education Freedom, 2023
Celebrating States that Expand Education Opportunity
Other State Initiatives
Responding in real time to policy opportunities as well as challenges.
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Airborne Christian Academy
Martinsburg, WV
Alabama Aerospace and Aviation High School
Bessemer, AL
AloeVR
National
American High School
National
An Achievable Dream
Newport News and Virginia Beach, VA
Archimedean Schools
Miami, FL
Arizona Autism Charter Schools
Phoenix, AZ
Arkansas Lighthouse Charter Schools
North Little Rock, AR
Atlanta Unbound
Atlanta, GA
Atlas Public Schools
St. Louis, MO
Aurora Science and Tech High School
Aurora, CO
Austin Achieve Public Schools
Austin, TX
Be More Colorful
Fargo, ND & National
Beyond Excellence Academy of STEAM
Nashville, TN
Big Picture Learning Company
National
Bill of Rights Institute
National
Black Mothers Forum
Phoenix, AZ
Black Pastors United for Education
Harrisburg, PA
Bob Hope Schools
Port Arthur, TX
Boddle Learning
National
Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater San Diego
San Diego, CA
Bridgeway Academy
Columbus, OH
Brilla Public Charter Schools – Paterson
Paterson, NJ
Brooklyn STEAM Center
Brooklyn, NY
Brookstone School
Charlotte, NC
Brothers Liberating our Communities
Kansas City, MO
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
Chesterton Schools Network
National
Chickasaw City Schools
Chickasaw, AL
City on a Hill Christian Academy
Fairmont, WV
ClassBank
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
Da Vinci RISE High
El Segundo, CA
Dallas Education Foundation
Dallas, TX
Delta Streets Ministries
Greenwood, MS
Detroit Achievement Academy
Detroit, MI
Dr. Howard Fuller Collegiate Academy
Milwaukee, WI
DreamHouse ‘Ewa Beach Public Charter School
Kapolei, HI
Dreams Academy International
Akron, OH
Durham Charter School
Durham, NC
Earl Monroe New Renaissance Basketball Charter School
New York, NY
Ecclesial Schools Initiative
Oviedo, FL
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
Father Judge High School
Philadelphia, PA
Franklin Regional School District
Murrysville, PA
Freedom Institute of Collier County
Naples, FL
Freedom Preparatory Academy
Memphis, TN
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
GuidEd
Tampa, FL
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
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
Learning Center for the Deaf
Framingham, MA
Libertas School of Memphis
Memphis, TN
Liberty STEAM Charter School
Sumter, SC
LiFT Learning
Bristol, VT
Liguori Academy
Philadelphia, pA
Living School
New Orleans, LA
Logos Academy
York, PA
Louisiana Key Academy
Baton Rouge, LA
End of Awardees
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Yass brought us together, creating opportunities to create an educational universe within which we can look at education differently…
we have to find academic experiences that represent neuro-divergent learners, kids who want to learn about gaming, who want to do stuff online, who dropped out of school.
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.
Because of the Yass Prize, we were able to add an additional pre-K classroom.
The Yass Award is about celebrating and rewarding those who make students the priority.”
Having the status of Yass Prize Semifinalist has opened doors that we’ve been knocking on for years,
including public recognition from our Governor and partnership conversations with other education innovators from around the country.
If you're committed to wanting to be one of the change makers of the future in education, I believe that this is a place for you.
Not only because of the capital, but because of the knowledge that comes by communing with the diverse group of people as opposed to everybody that thinks the exact same way that you might think.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The foundation of any society is a good education.
Our newest endeavor – that was part of our Yass Prize initiative – we're bringing career and technical education into the school
I'm in the process of going through the construction of a 20,000 square foot $11.5 million dollar building dedicated to career and technical education for the students in the Philadelphia region.