Newton’s KaiPod Learning Named Semifinalist For $1M Prize

NEWTON, MA — Newton-based KaiPod Learning, which creates in-person learning centers for online learners and homeschoolers, has been named one of America’s most innovative and effective educational organizations and a semi-finalist for the $1 million Yass Prize.

The prize will be awarded December 14 in New York City at an event held in partnership with Forbes Media. As one of 32 semifinalists, the KaiPod Learning will receive a minimum of $200,000.

Awarded annually, the Yass Prize for Sustainable, Transformational, Outstanding and Permissionless Education, administered by the Center for Education Reform, is awarded to the education provider whose innovative product or program is judged to give students the most effective, transformational and lasting educational experience possible.

Approximately 2,700 organizations from 48 states - including public, private and charter schools, education technology companies, “microschools” and a variety of nonprofit organizations - entered the competition for this year’s prize.

Most of the organizations named as semifinalists were singled out for creating new forms for delivering education, such as microschools, pods, and hybrid learning environments that combine both the public and private sectors, innovative charter schools, private schools serving specialized student populations underserved by traditional schools, and ed tech apps. Several are parent-led organizations and others combine career prep and apprenticeships with traditional learning.

The 32 Yass Prize semifinalists will compete next month in the competition’s “accelerator” round, from which the winner and six runners-up, each of which will receive $250,000, will be selected. Altogether, more than $11 million will be awarded.

“Those who think a quality education is no longer available to American students whose families aren’t wealthy should look at the extraordinary range of success stories told by our semifinalists,” Yass Prize founder Janine Yass said in a statement. "They take many different approaches, and face many different challenges, but they all arrive at the same destination: students who are successful in school and are highly likely to be successful in life as well."

Jeanne Allen, director of the Yass Foundation and founder and CEO of the Center for Education Reform, said the awards program is helping to build a “critical mass of innovation and success” beyond the confines of America’s troubled public-school systems.

“We are hopeful that what we see and learn from each year’s competitors will be applied by others to improve their own schools,” Allen said. "As the Yass Prize competition confirms, there is no reason for failure. Given the right tools and environment, even children in the most challenging circumstances can learn.”