Phoenix – (Business Wire)–Governor Doug Ducey and Janine Yass, founder of The Yass Prize, jointly announced Stop Arizona Education Awards, which awards six Arizona education providers with the clearest picture of how they will expand to meet the needs of a growing number of parents looking to take advantage of the state’s groundbreaking empowering scholarship account. The STOP Prize is an initiative of the Yas Prize smallSustainable, Tontransformative, ○outstanding and phosphorusImpeccable education (stop), dedicated to supporting those who excel among underserved students, no matter the challenges.
“Governor Ducey has set a new standard for the entire state. We created this award in recognition of all his and Arizona’s efforts to expand access to special education for students. While we initially committed $500,000 for the Ducey Award, five other Each of the STOP for Arizona awards pledged $100,000, but we were so excited about the program we read about that we decided to double it to accelerate the work of these outstanding educators and innovators,” said the award’s visionary, Janine Yass.
The $1 million Ducey Award went to the Phoenix Pre-Science Academy for its ability to open at least five additional micro-schools and increase the number of students in the Phoenix metro area from 800 to 800 students. Science Prep helps neurodivergent students transition into adulthood and the workforce in exceptional and transformative ways.
“What a great day for this group of Arizona educators and advocates,” said Governor Doug Ducey. “We are so proud of each of them, and all the great schools, innovators, stakeholders and everyone else who puts our children first. Thank you, Yass Prize, for all you do, Thank you for coming to our great state and we truly appreciate you.”
Each of the additional $200,000 awards will be awarded to five organizations that are also expanding in key areas of the state to meet demand or help parents find available opportunities. These organizations are:
- St Mary Barsha Catholic Schoolan elementary school in the Greater Chandler area, is making technology-focused education, including the school’s makerspace and a robotics team that enriches its core programs.
- Chino Learning Centera private microschool with personalized learning pods in Tucson, is planning to double the number of students they serve.
- Our Lady of the Lake Catholic School, Located in the City of Lake Havasu, a new teacher training partnership is being formed to be able to serve all the families on the waitlist in their vast rural community.
- St John the Evangelist Catholic School, Serving more than 420 K-8 students in the City of Tucson, plans are underway to develop a faith-based online blended learning environment for the entire Diocese of Tucson, doubling the number of students served.
- love your school, A statewide support organization that helps parents find the right schools so that all families can take advantage of educational opportunities in Arizona. With this award, Love Your School plans to enroll 50,000 students in the school of their choice by 2025.
“Educational providers honored today are just a small fraction of those who have worked hard to reach and teach the students entrusted to them, no matter the challenges. They have withstood the test during the pandemic and continue to provide student-centered learning environments that not only serve their students but impact their entire community,” said Jenny Allen, founder and CEO of the Center for Education Reform, which oversees the Yas Prize and STOP Prize programs.
About the Yas Prize:
The $1 million Yas Prize recognizes the education provider in the country who best embodies the STOP principle.Along with the Yas Prize, this year’s STOP Prize programme will award more than $16 million In recognition of educators who have achieved excellence. For media inquiries, please contact John at 202-203-9688 or email pr@yassprize.org.
