Applications for the nation's largest education innovation award, the $1 million Yass Prize, close June 1, 2026, at 12 p.m. Maine education providers of every type, sector, and scale are encouraged to apply before the window closes at yassprize.org. 

Maine has already produced Yass Prize-recognized innovators. St. George Municipal School Unit, in Tenants Harbor, a small coastal public school district building the nation's first PreK-12 career and technical education program, advanced to the 2023 Finalist round and received $500,000 in prize funding. Herring Gut Coastal Science Center, in Port Clyde, which educates students about the connections between Maine's ocean, inland waters, and economy, was named a 2023 Quarterfinalist.

"With the June 1 deadline approaching, Yass Prize organizers want to ensure Maine's education innovators have every chance to apply before the window closes," said a news release. 

The Yass Prize recognizes the most transformational, sustainable, and outstanding education models in America, awarding over $60 million to date to more than 225 school founders and education leaders across 45 states — funding and supporting them to accelerate their impact and expand opportunity in the communities they serve. 

"The effort is sector agnostic," said the news release.

Past winners and finalists span the full spectrum: from innovative public models to private networks, charter schools, microschools and career and technical programs.

"What unites them is a relentless sense of urgency to make education work for every kind of student," said the release.

"Year after year, the organizations that have moved quickly to the top are the ones who almost didn't apply," said Caroline Allen, founding director of the Yass Prize. "If you're doing extraordinary work for kids, this prize was built for you."

Selected finalists will attend the Yass Prize Accelerator in Miami — an intensive boot camp where participants are paired with expert advisors, sharpen their business plans, and pitch for the $1 million grand prize. The winner will be announced at the Power of Innovation Summit on October 6, 2026 in Philadelphia. 

According to past winners, the process is rigorous but not daunting. Elias Pappas, CEO of Odyssey Charter School in Delaware and 2023 Yass Prize Finalist, shared from his experience: "If you have the 3 to 4 hours, why wouldn't you apply to change the lives of all the children you serve?" 

Yass Prize co-founder Janine Yass, who launched the prize alongside her husband Jeff, said of the award: "Every year, we are thrilled to find these education changemakers, and we are grateful to be able to reward their extraordinary creativity, tenacity, and achievements, and to help them build for the future."

Applications close June 1, 2026 at 12:00 P.M. ET. Apply at yassprize.org. 

The $1 million Yass Prize is America's largest education innovation award. Since 2021, it has awarded over $60 million to more than 225 organizations across 45 states and is powered by the Center for Education Reform. Learn more at YassPrize.org.