Yass Prize applications close June 1

By AI, Created 10:04 AM UTC, May 20, 2026, /AGP/ – Applications for the $1 million Yass Prize, billed as America’s largest education innovation award, close June 1 at noon ET. The prize is open to education providers of every type and scale, with finalists headed to a summer accelerator and the winner set to be announced in Philadelphia on Oct. 6.

Why it matters: - The Yass Prize is designed to fund education models that are changing how schools and programs serve students. - The award has distributed more than $60 million to over 225 school founders and education leaders across 45 states since 2021. - The prize is sector-agnostic, so public, private, charter, microschool and career and technical education models can compete.

What happened: - Applications for the $1 million Yass Prize close June 1, 2026 at 12:00 p.m. ET. - Education providers of every type, sector and scale are invited to apply at YassPrize.org. - The Yass Prize is based in Washington, D.C., and is powered by the Center for Education Reform.

The details: - The prize recognizes education models judged to be transformational, sustainable and outstanding. - Past winners and finalists have included innovation-focused public models, private networks, charter schools, microschools and career and technical programs. - Caroline Allen, founding director of the Yass Prize, said organizations that move quickly to apply are often the ones that almost skip the deadline. - Selected finalists will attend the Yass Prize Accelerator, described as a virtual and in-person intensive with expert advisors. - The accelerator is meant to sharpen finalists’ goals and pitch for the $1 million grand prize. - The winner will be announced at the Power of Innovation Summit on Oct. 6, 2026 in Philadelphia. - Elias Pappas, CEO of Odyssey Charter School in Delaware and a 2023 finalist, said the application process is rigorous but not daunting. - Pappas said applicants with 3 to 4 hours should consider applying to change the lives of the children they serve.

Between the lines: - The prize is built to attract a broad field, not just traditional schools or large systems. - The messaging from organizers and past finalists is aimed at lowering the perceived barrier to entry for busy education leaders. - The award’s scale and recurring national footprint signal an effort to shape the education innovation landscape beyond a single competition. - Janine Yass, co-founder of the prize, said the team wants to reward education changemakers and help them build for the future.

What’s next: - Finalists will move into the accelerator after applications close. - The grand prize winner will be named in Philadelphia in October. - Press inquiries about interviews, events or award presentations can be sent to press@edreform.com.

The bottom line: - The Yass Prize is making a broad national call for education innovators, with the deadline less than a month away and a $1 million award on the line.