The Center for Education Reform is innovating a dynamic new web experience - check back often to explore the latest updates!

2022 Yass Prize & STOP Awards Applications are Closed

Thousands of Applications Under Consideration as Window Closes for 2022 Yass Prize & STOP Awards

Award that celebrates transformational education will deliver more than $11 million to the nation’s most innovative educators

WASHINGTON, DC JULY 26, 2022 – After three months of national conferences, informational webinars, and conversations with thousands of prospective applicants, the 2022 Yass Prize and STOP Awards application window has closed. The prestigious $1 million Yass Prize celebrates the country’s education provider which best demonstrates educational experiences that are Sustainable, Transformational, Outstanding and Permissionless (STOP) for all students. In conjunction with the Yass Prize, the STOP Awards initiative will distribute over $10 million to honor an additional 63 education innovators, providers, and entrepreneurs that achieve excellence. An additional $1 million in prizes will be awarded to six Arizona education providers who are able to expand to meet the growing demand of parents utilizing the new Empowerment Scholarship Program.

During this year’s application window, more than 2,700 applications were received, spanning 48 states and ranging from public to private schools, ed tech companies to nonprofit organizations, microschools, and more. The broad level of geographic and sector diversity demonstrates the vibrant potential and cultivation of excellence and innovation in our country for our PreK-12 students.

“The application pool this year is quite impressive and extraordinary. We are thankful to everyone who took the time to apply, and are thrilled to dive into the review process to uncover the nation’s best education innovators who are delivering outstanding education for students,” said Janine Yass, Founder of the Yass Prize. 

With the application window now closed, all applications will undergo a three-tier, extensive review process. The 64 Yass Prize quarter-finalists will be announced in October, along with the Arizona prize finalists. By October 21, the 32 semi-finalists will be selected and compete in the Yass Prize accelerator in November. Similar to the inaugural cohort of applicants in 2021, the final seven (7) winners will be selected at a special event, held in partnership with Forbes Media, on December 14 in New York City.

The Yass Prize for Sustainable, Transformational, Outstanding and Permissionless Education is powered by the Center for Education Reform in partnership with Forbes. For more information, please visit YassPrize.org. For media inquiries, please contact John Allen at 202-203-9688 or [email protected].


About CER – Working to advance education innovation and opportunity for nearly 3 decades, the Center for Education Reform also today administers the $1 Million Yass Prize for Sustainable, Transformational, Outstanding and Permissionless Education to reward education providers who deliver for students no matter the challenges. Applications open through July 25 for more than $10 million in prizes and the chance to become part of a new community to advance STOP principles. 

Share this post: