Sarasota, FL – Star Lab, a small school offering personalized learning, in Newtown, Sarasota, has been selected as one of 26 finalists for the 2026 Yass Prize.

Known as the “Pulitzer of Education Innovation,” the $1 million Yass Prize rewards education providers that exemplify the STOP principles: Sustainable, Transformational, Outstanding and Permissionless education.

“When my husband Jeff and I founded the Yass Prize in 2021, our goal was to recognize the education innovators who refused to let students fall behind,” said Yass Prize co-founder Janine Yass. “Five years later, this remarkable 2026 cohort shows how far that movement has grown – creating student-centered solutions for every kind of learner while expanding opportunities for families across America.”

Star Lab began as a kindergarten program in 2024, with just five students, and has been growing ever since. In the 25-26 school year, Star Lab educated 20 children in grades K-3^rd, and this year the school has expanded to two Newtown locations, serving 50 students in K-5^th grade.

“Star Lab isn’t trying to replicate public schools,” says Alison Rini, School Founder and Head of School. “We know there are children and families who fall through the cracks. With Star Lab, we created a program that doesn’t leave anyone behind, with our small class sizes, high teacher-student ratios, personalized learning paths, and frequent movement breaks.”

As a contender for the grand prize, Star Lab will join 25 schools to learn from nationally recognized leaders in business, education, entrepreneurship, technology and public policy to strengthen and scale their organizations. Virtual training takes place the first week of September, and then the contenders convene at an in-person pitch competition before a distinguished panel of judges from September 14-17.

Star Lab was chosen because the school’s design allows it to achieve accelerated results. Children who previously struggled with reading, math, or behavior make progress due to the school’s personalized approach – and children who are academically advanced can soar ahead. “We set out to design a school based on learning science. And we do consistently deliver high levels of learning, but parents are equally grateful for the joy the school has brought to their family,” says Rini.

A third grade parent commented, “My son was doing fine academically at his previous school, but the spark was gone. He was just going through the motions. Now he comes home from Star Lab talking about his day with excitement. I couldn’t be happier.”

“What distinguishes this year’s contenders is both the strength of the organizations and the breadth of the solutions they represent,” said Jeanne Allen, Founder and CEO of the Center for Education Reform, which powers the Yass Prize. “These leaders are proving that education cannot be uniform and must work for every child. They are giving families more choices and creating opportunities that allow every student to thrive.”

The $1 million Yass Prize winner will be announced live at the Power of Innovation Summit on October 6, 2026 in Philadelphia.

To watch the 2026 contender announcement, visit YassPrize.org/live. To meet the 2026 contenders, click here.