A Rochester, New York, charter school is heading to Philadelphia with a chance to secure a $1 million award recognizing innovative approaches to education.
University Preparatory Charter School for Young Men will be among the contenders at the 2026 Yass Prize awards ceremony on October 6 at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia. The event will conclude a yearlong national search for education innovators developing new ways to serve students and families.
The awards will take place during the Power of Innovation Summit: The Power of Freedom, bringing together education entrepreneurs, school leaders, philanthropists and other advocates focused on transforming the nation’s education landscape.
The summit will spotlight new schools, alternative learning models, partnerships and programs designed to expand educational opportunities. It also provides a platform for organizations to share ideas and approaches that could be replicated in communities across the country.
For University Preparatory Charter School for Young Men, the recognition places its work among a national group of education organizations being considered for significant financial support. The $1 million Yass Prize will go to one organization, while more than $1 million in total awards will be distributed among this year’s contenders.
Since its launch, the Yass Prize initiative has awarded more than $80 million to more than 258 organizations serving students and families throughout the United States. The program supports education innovators who are rethinking traditional approaches and creating opportunities for students that may not otherwise be available.
Its guiding framework is built around four principles: Sustainable, Transformational, Outstanding and Permissionless education, collectively known as STOP. The principles emphasize the importance of creating educational models that can endure, produce meaningful change, demonstrate excellence and give educators the freedom to pursue new ideas.
The initiative’s broader mission reflects a growing national conversation about educational choice and the role of innovation in addressing the diverse needs of students and families. Rather than relying on a single model, the Yass Prize recognizes organizations pursuing different approaches to improving learning experiences and expanding access.
The October 6 gathering will bring those efforts together, highlighting the people and partnerships working to shape the future of education.
University Preparatory Charter School for Young Men will have an opportunity to showcase its work alongside organizations from across the country. The event’s results will determine which contender takes home the top $1 million prize.
More information about the awards and participating organizations is available at YassPrize.org.