PHX Reporter

Science Prep Academy of Phoenix won the $1 Million “Ducey Prize” for the STOP (Sustainable, Transformational, Outstanding and Permissionless) for Arizona Education Awards, an initiative of the Yass Prize, according to a story by Businesswire.

Science Prep won after opening five micro school locations and increasing its capacity to 800 students, the story stated. In addition, St. Mary-Basha Catholic School, Kino Learning Center, Our Lady of the Lake Catholic School, St. John the Evangelist Catholic School and Love Your School each won $200,000 prizes. The winners were revealed by Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey and Janine Yass, founder of The Yass Prize.

“Governor Ducey has set a new standard for the entire nation," Yass said in the release. "We created this award to honor his and all of Arizona’s efforts to expand access to exceptional educational opportunities for students. While we initially pledged $500,000 for the Ducey Prize and $100,000 for each of the five other STOP for Arizona Awards, we were so excited by the plans we read that we decided to double it, to accelerate the work of these stellar educators and innovators.”

The Yass Prize "celebrates the country’s education provider which best demonstrates the STOP principles," the story stated. The STOP Awards Initiative will give out more than $16 million to honor educators.

"We’re proud of each and every one of these and of all the great schools, innovators, stakeholders and everyone else that puts our children first," Ducey said. "Thank you, Yass Prize, for all that you do and for coming here to our great state, we truly appreciate you.”

Jeanne Allen, Founder and CEO of the Center for Education Reform, said the award also represents the best in all education.

“The education providers honored today are but a fraction of those doing the hard work of reaching and teaching the students entrusted to them, no matter what the challenges. They endured during the pandemic and continue to offer student-centered learning environments that not only serve their students but impacts their entire communities,” Allen said. The Center for Education Reform oversees the Yass Prize and STOP Awards Initiative.