Saul Zaentz Early Education Initiative at Harvard Seeks New Ideas to Enhance Children’s Early Experiences
April 18 2024 - 6:00AM
Today the Saul Zaentz Early Education Initiative at the Harvard
Graduate School of Education announced the 2024 Zaentz Early
Education Innovation Challenge. Now in its fifth year, the
Innovation Challenge seeks individuals or teams to submit new ideas
to drive transformative change in early education.
“High-quality early education is crucial for healthy child
development, thriving families, and strong communities. And yet,
across the country, our early education systems face persistent
challenges,” said Nonie Lesaux, Roy Edward Larsen Professor of
Education and Human Development and co-director of the Saul Zaentz
Early Education Initiative. “To deliver on early education's
promise and potential, we need to improve all levels of the system,
from supporting the workforce, to finding new ways to promote
children’s healthy development, to creating policy solutions that
bring more and better early learning opportunities. Now is the time
for creative, collaborative solutions that will drive positive
outcomes for all children.”
Submissions to the Zaentz Early Education Innovation Challenge
may target short-term or long-term change at any level of the early
education system, including home, classroom, program, network,
and/or policy. To support innovation at any stage, the Challenge
has two submission tracks:
- Envision Track is for applicants who have an idea and
are seeking to try it out in the real world
- Accelerate Track is for applicants who have already
tried out their idea and are seeking to evaluate it, refine it,
and/or expand its reach
Finalists in both tracks will be invited to present their
solutions to a panel of expert judges and a live audience at the
Harvard Graduate School of Education. Winners will receive a cash
prize.
The deadline to submit is July 19, 2024, at 11:59 PM ET. To
apply, learn about past winners, and view more information about
the Zaentz Early Education Innovation Challenge, visit
https://zaentz.gse.harvard.edu/innovation-challenge/.
About The Saul Zaentz Early Education
Initiative
The Saul Zaentz Early Education Initiative at the Harvard
Graduate School of Education (HGSE) promotes the knowledge,
professional learning, and collective action necessary to cultivate
optimal early learning environments and experiences. The Saul
Zaentz Early Education Initiative is supported by a $35.5 million
gift from the Saul Zaentz Charitable Foundation, one of the largest
gifts ever given to a university for advancing early childhood
education.
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Katelyn Creech
katelyn.creech@gmmb.com