The “Pulitzer of Education Innovation” – in its sixth year – will reward transformational education providers embodying the STOP Principles
WINTER PARK, FL — On Monday, February 9, 2026, in the heart of the country’s school choice epicenter, the Yass Prize announced its 2026 competition at the site of 2025 Yass Prize winner – Chesterton School Network’s Winter Park location.
The $1 million Yass Prize for Sustainable, Transformational, Outstanding and Permissionless Education is considered the Pulitzer of education innovation and was established to find, reward, celebrate, and expand best-in-class education organizations for every sector. Since 2021, the Yass Prize and STOP Awards Initiative has awarded over $60 million to more than 225 education organizations from every sector and educational approach in 45 states.
“The Yass Prize is both a substantial recognition of leadership and an invitation to join a vibrant community of innovators and entrepreneurs building a brand new education ecosystem,” said Prize Co-Founder Janine Yass. “Over the past six years, it has been a great honor to reward so many education pioneers with the shared goal of radically transforming not only the academic and life outcomes of their students, but the school experience for their families.”
When the Yass Prize application window closes in late spring, those who have submitted complete applications will undergo a thorough, three-tier judging process. In early fall, a select group of contenders from the application pool will be chosen to vie for the $1 million Yass Prize when they pitch at the Yass Prize Miami Accelerator. Subsequently, the $1 million Yass Prize winner will be revealed in late 2026 at the annual Power of Innovation Summit.
“There is tremendous momentum across the nation to provide families looking for the right school fit with a variety of learning models that recognize each student as a unique learner,” said Jeanne Allen, Founder and CEO of the Center for Education Reform. “One size certainly does not fit all and the Yass Prize identifies passionate education leaders who have created effective and meaningful learning experiences for students throughout the country.”
The Yass Prize is sector agnostic. There is no preference for any type of education other than it be Sustainable, Transformational, Outstanding and Permissionless. Chosen from among thousands of applications, this past year’s Yass Prize Finalists represent a diverse array of educational initiatives, including: Chesterton Schools Network, empowering parents to create joyful, high-quality schools where students are known, challenged, and transformed; Path of Life Learning, giving highly mobile and military-connected children the stability, belonging, and personalized support they need to finally thrive; Pepin Academies, transforming the lives of students with learning disabilities by providing a therapeutic, inclusive school environment where academics and essential therapies happen together in real time; School House, a multi-methodology private school that unifies five evidence-based approaches into a single, vertically aligned curriculum; and WonderHere, a network of child-centered microschools that combines project-based, play-driven, and personalized learning. Search for Yass Prize winners by type, year, state and more at https://yassprize.org/awards.
The 2026 Yass Prize application can be now accessed at https://yassprize.org/. Media interested in connecting with school/program leaders, past awardees, or partners of the Yass Prize should contact Jonathan Oglesby at [email protected].
