<!–

–>

July 1, 2022

A national prize competition is honoring and supporting ambitious programs throughout the nation that increase access to high-quality pre-kindergarten through 12th grade education.

‘); googletag.cmd.push(function () { googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-1609268089992-0’); }); }

The $1 million Yass Prize is the top annual award of the STOP Foundation for Education, established by donors Janine and Jeff Yass. The foundation aims to make the Yass Prize the Pulitzer of education. In addition to the Yass Prize, the four finalists in the 2021 competition received awards of $250,000 each, and 16 semi-finalists received gifts of $100,000 each, according to the nonprofit’s website.

“The mission of the STOP Awards is to identify and support more best in class education providers who can tackle the challenges and deliver an education for students that is sustainable, transformational, outstanding, and permissionless,” states the STOP Foundation.

The first Yass Prize was awarded in 2021, as schools faced the challenges of COVID-19 mask mandates and restrictions on in-person learning. Many public schools were shuttered for more than a year, leading to the loss of education progress for millions of students. However, entrepreneurial schools and learning programs adapted, pursued their education missions, and kept their students on-track for academic success.

‘); googletag.cmd.push(function () { googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-1609270365559-0’); }); }

Applications for this year’s prizes can still be submitted.

Science Center Opens School

The first winner of the Yass Prize, the Discovery Center of Springfield (DCS) in Missouri, exemplifies the potential for education innovation the STOP Foundation aims to recognize and promote.

“[In the middle of] a challenging education environment in the Ozarks, this museum and science center turned to educate thousands of children whose schools were closed, many of whose parents were first responders and economically insecure,” states the STOP Foundation. “The Discovery Center provided over 200,000 hours of free child care, over 50,000 free meals and snacks, and served over 1,500 child enrollments.”

As schools were shuttered nationwide, the DCS adapted to continue its Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) mission, states the STOP Foundation.

“In March 2020, every team member opted to serve the community in person rather than wait out the pandemic at home,” according to the STOP Foundation. “They rapidly built out classrooms and turned the center into COVID-safe, licensed emergency child care center capable of caring for hundreds of children a day. Within five days of around-the-clock construction, the facility was modified to keep kids safe with fully licensed child care and engaged in STEM-based education through the crisis.”