Some of the best ideas in K–12 education start small, with people who see a problem clearly and build a practical way to solve it. 

That’s why State Policy Network created LaunchPad, a program that helps nonprofit leaders develop and strengthen practical solutions to public challenges. Since 2019, SPN’s LaunchPad has supported projects aimed at some of the biggest challenges in education, from expanding opportunity for families to backing new learning models and the people building them. 

Now SPN is looking for the next great idea. 

Applications open March 16 for the 2026 Ed-Prize, which will award winners up to $75,000 to accelerate the program’s development.  Top projects will also be recognized at SPN’s Annual Meeting and connected to a broader network of support through LaunchPad. 

This year, that prize program is expanding. Alongside the Ed-Prize, SPN is launching a new Civics Prize, with awards of up to $60,000 for projects that help students better understand the rights, responsibilities, and institutions of American self-government. 

As the country approaches the 250th anniversary of America’s founding, the expansion gives the program a wider frame. The Ed-Prize will continue to highlight practical solutions to K–12 challenges. The Civics Prize adds a second track for work focused on civic literacy and self-government. 

What Winning Projects Look Like 

Past winners show the kind of work SPN is trying to identify and support. 

In 2025, the California Microschool Collective was recognized for building a national network of microschool leaders with shared tools and support. Outschool.org won for expanding ESA navigation tools that help families find and use education options. American Experiment North Dakota was recognized for work building support for charter schools, reaching nearly 200,000 residents. 

The 2024 winners were similarly varied. Eight Million Stories was recognized for work in Houston serving students who had dropped out of school or were at risk of doing so. Love Your School won for its Parent Concierge Service, which helps Arizona families make informed education decisions. And Libertas Institute was recognized for the Education Innovators Association, which supports microschool founders and other education entrepreneurs as they navigate regulatory barriers in Utah. 

These projects differ in form, but they reflect the same basic direction: more freedom for families, more room for innovation, and more education models built around students rather than systems. 

They also share a common shape. They begin with a real problem, offer a practical response, and show the potential to grow beyond one school or one community. 

That is part of what the prizes offer. The funding is one piece of it. So is the visibility. Winners are recognized at SPN’s Annual Meeting, where more than 1,500 leaders from 500 organizations and all 50 states gathered in 2025. Strong applicants may also be connected to other LaunchPad opportunities, including workshops, training, and networking. 

Why SPN is Expanding the Program 

The new Civics Prize reflects a broader goal for this year’s program. Students need academic preparation, but they also need a serious understanding of citizenship, self-government, and the institutions of a free society. 

That is why the 2026 program now has two tracks. The Ed-Prize remains focused on innovation in K–12 education, including work to improve learning, strengthen school operations, remove barriers to scaling strong models, and surface ideas that can help other communities and states. 

The Civics Prize – supported by the Daniels Fund – creates room for projects that address gaps in civic knowledge through curriculum, digital media, professional development, or community-based programs.  

In that sense, the expansion is not a departure from the Ed-Prize. It is an extension of the same basic effort: finding practical ideas that can serve students well and helping them go further. 

Who Should Apply 

The prizes are open to 501(c)(3) nonprofits, and applicants do not need to be SPN members. 

SPN is looking for applicants that can define a real problem, explain a strong solution, and show evidence that the work can succeed and grow. SPN will not consider school choice policy initiatives through this competition. Alternative schools may apply, but proposals must be project-based, with a clear scope, timeline, and measures of success. 

You can access the application here.