Innovation in Action: Volume 11
Growth, Grit, and Greatness This School Year
Welcome back to Innovation in Action, a bi-weekly news brief about the incredible activities of some of our nation's best education leaders. The Yass Prize for Sustainable, Transformational, Outstanding, and Permissionless education, now in its fifth year, is a rapidly growing effort to find, reward, celebrate and expand best-in-class education organizations from every sector, in every state.
As a new school year begins, STOP for Education awardees are moving with the speed and urgency students deserve. The three examples below showcase the kind of groundbreaking expansion and innovation shaping schools this fall.
Pioneering AI Credentials for FL Students
The Freedom Institute of Collier County (2024 Semifinalist) has been awarded a one million dollar grant to pioneer a high school-level AI certification program for Florida students - the first of its kind in the state. This ambitious project, supported by the Dekko Foundation, will provide students with a professional, industry-recognized credential and essential skills for tomorrow's workforce. The opportunity has allowed FICC to develop a pilot of Freedom AI High, a fully remote, self-paced program combining their award-winning C5 Curriculum with AI-generated, personalized learning pathways and live mentorship. Through this groundbreaking work, FICC is preparing Florida’s students, and eventually learners across the nation, to lead in an AI-driven future.
Expanding Opportunity in Milwaukee
Notre Dame School of Milwaukee is experiencing remarkable growth and expanding its St. Florian middle school campus to better serve its students and community. Guided by insights from a student listening tour, school leaders are planning dynamic new spaces, including modern classrooms, a library, playground, gym, and vibrant outdoor areas that foster learning and connection.
“Opening up these classrooms and opening up this facility, we’ve been able to accommodate a lot of that waitlist pressure to make sure that those families and those students had a seat here.” - Patrick Landry, President
With waiting lists across all three campuses, this expansion will position NDSM to serve up to 900 students by 2028, ensuring more children have access to its high-quality, mission-driven education.
If You Build It… Adapting for Success in Montgomery
At Valiant Cross Academy (2023 Winner) in Montgomery, AL, founder Anthony Brock is always finding innovative ways to meet demonstrated demand. Their elementary school opened its doors in fall 2024 with 40 kindergarten and first-grade students and has already expanded this year to include second grade, bringing total enrollment to 70. The school is steadily progressing toward its vision of a full K-5 program within a comprehensive K-12 model, adding one grade level each year.
Last fall also marked the launch of the Middle School Microschool, created to serve students in grades 6-8 who have been homeschooled, faced chronic absenteeism, or were not enrolled in traditional schools. Beginning with just 10 students, the program has doubled in size to 20 this year, highlighting the growing demand for alternative educational pathways.
“We will continue this fight for educational freedom and equality until every young person in America is afforded the option to receive a quality education.” - Anthony Brock, Co-Founder
Summer flew by! Congrats to…
WIN Academy, which was highlighted by Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.V.) during her opening statement before the Appropriations Subcommittee hearing in June.
Be More Colorful, whose CEO Matthew Chaussee was awarded a patent from the USPTO for a core process the team developed for constructing Be More Colorful's CareerViewXR experiences.
Earl Monroe New Renaissance Basketball Charter School’s Executive Director Brandon Corley and his students for being showcased on Good Morning America to share the story of EVNTLLY, their socially conscious streetwear brand that raises awareness about gun violence.
STOP for Education is an initiative focused on developing and expanding the transformational impact of Yass Prize awardees and partners who are dedicated to the four core STOP principles - Sustainable, Transformational, Outstanding, and Permissionless education. This new publication, Innovation in Action, will feature the latest from best-in-class education providers.
Follow along STOP for Education on X @edreform. Learn more about STOP for Education and CER’s initiatives here.