Awardees
Awardees
The 2024 Yass Prize Winner!
Primer Microschools
The 2024 Finalists
2024 Yass Prize Semifinalists
Meet the 25 Semifinalists selected for the 2024 Yass Prize
Other State Initiatives
Responding in real time to policy opportunities as well as challenges.
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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
Meet the 2024 Semifinalists
Alabama Aerospace and Aviation High School
Bessemer, AL
AloeVR
National
An Achievable Dream
Newport News and Virginia Beach, VA
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
Aurora Science and Tech High School
Aurora, CO
Austin Achieve Public Schools
Austin, TX
Be More Colorful
Fargo, ND & National
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
Build UP
Birmingham, AL
Burbrella Learning Academy
Burlington, NC
Café Momentum
National
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
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
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
Earl Monroe New Renaissance Basketball Charter School
New York, NY
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
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
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
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
Lutheran Urban Mission Initiative, Inc. (LUMIN)
Multiple cities, WI
Madrona Folk School
Grant Pass, OR
MAP Academy
Plymouth, MA
Maryville Academy
Des Plaines, IL
End of Awardees
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We used the Yass Prize to launch a program called Skypod catalyst, which is essentially an accelerator to help other people start microschools.
We believe very much that microschools should be bottoms up, they come from the community. They're founded by educators who know their community really well. And they want to design a learning environment for the kids in that community.
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.
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.
Because of the Yass Prize, we were able to add an additional pre-K classroom.
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.
Believe in your mission… Ground yourself… Never give up…
The foundation of any society is a good education.
The Yass Prize has brought together such diverse leaders
from all different demographics, all different states, all different service provider types that you can learn from.
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.
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 has significantly impacted the trajectory of our organization.
When we originally applied, we simply provided supplemental support services to homeschooling families. Now, we are growing into an education network that provides community, coaching, and curriculum nationwide.
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.