Do You Have an Idea for Early Education?
For the fifth year, the Saul Zaentz Early Education Initiative is looking for new ideas in early education. The 2024 edition of its Innovation Challenge provides an opportunity for people working in the early education field to propose ideas that have the potential to create positive change for young children and the adults in their lives. Applicants have the opportunity to bring those ideas to Cambridge, pitching them live at Harvard as part of an annual event on campus this fall.
Launched in 2016, the Saul Zaentz Early Education Initiative’s Innovation Challenge is an effort to seed the field of early education with new ideas and fresh thinking while providing support to educators as they develop and implement their innovations in the real world.
The Initiative features two ways for people to propose their ideas: an Envision Track for applicants with an idea they’re ready to try out in the real world, and an Accelerate Track for applicants who seek to evaluate, refine, and/or expand the reach of an idea they’ve already brought to the real world. The challenge welcomes nonprofit, for-profit, and even “undetermined” initiatives as applicants, with winners receiving up to $15,000 in funding to further develop their pitches.
“We’re eager to see creative solutions for perennial challenges and opportunities in early education,” says Zaentz co-director and Harvard Graduate School of Education Professor Stephanie Jones. “Leaders across the country and around the world are increasingly investing in early education as a strategy to support the well-being of young children, families, educators, and the broader economy, and they’re eager for new ideas that can be put into practice in the real world and at scale. This year’s challenge will be a great opportunity to showcase concrete, promising solutions from innovators who are embedded in and working with real communities every day.”
Zaentz faculty co-director and HGSE Professor Nonie Lesaux noted that applicants are tackling a wide-ranging field of challenges and opportunities in early education, with winners and finalists often making a tangible impact in the field shortly after taking part in the competition.
“We are excited to see how the innovators who compete in the challenge are making a real impact now. We’ve kept in touch with many of the winners, and we’ve loved seeing what they do with the boost that the challenge gives them,” says Lesaux. “Many themes have emerged over the years — including workforce supports, family and child mental health, and outdoor and play-based learning — but every team has its own unique approach. It’s also been gratifying to see that Challenge applicants and winners reflect an incredible diversity of early education settings and contexts, from family and home-based care to centers and public preK.”
Those interested in applying for the Zaentz Early Education Innovation Challenge can submit an application here by July 19 at 11:59 p.m. Winners will be notified on September 23, with an on-campus pitch event taking place with an expert panel of judges on October 29.
Below, past Innovation Challenge finalists and winners share why they applied for the challenge and their favorite part of the application and pitch process.
Tanya Wright, Ed.M.'22 - Founder, Hairiette’s House
Why did you apply?
I think that I was inspired by the idea of creating community around my innovation. I think entrepreneurship can be a somewhat lonely process, and the idea of creating community with the other fellows and the team that creates the Zaentz Innovation Challenge was exciting to me.
Favorite part of the Challenge?
Looking at and listening to the other presenters, I was inspired and astounded by all the great, thoughtful, interested, interesting, and really great work that people are doing. Great work that the world really needs. And I was heartened to be in their midst and grateful to be championed alongside them.
Sep Riahi - Co-founder of Global Tinker
Why did you apply?
We were inspired by Zaentz’s stellar reputation of providing meaningful innovations in early education. We really admired their dedication to support bold ideas and really saw the challenge as a perfect opportunity to showcase our solution, gain valuable feedback, and really refine our approach. Which we’ve done.
Favorite part of the Challenge?
My favorite part of the challenge was the fact that it offered us the chance to connect with a world-class community of educators, experts, and others that shared our passion for creating transformative educational experiences. That was fantastic.
Binal Patel - Chief program officer, Neighborhood Villages
Why did you apply?
We are really excited about what innovation in this field looks like and can look like. We definitely don’t want to become a field that’s stagnant and doesn’t meet the needs of children and families today. We feel innovation is synonymous to what we do at Neighborhood Villages: we’re always piloting, innovating, figuring out new models and the Innovation Challenge was an incredible platform to display what our innovations are and to learn about other innovations.
Favorite Part of the Challenge?
My favorite part of the process was really talking to the other finalists and hearing about their innovation and being so inspired by what they did. We weren’t the ones that won in the end, but when they called the name of who won we were cheering, we were so excited for them. Any innovation in the field is an accomplishment for everybody, and for the field as a whole. It just felt like such a positive process.
Magda Rodriguez - Senior director of national strategy, Families First
Why did you apply?
We were inspired to apply because when we were piloting The Parent Leadership Program, we realized the program was very unique and filled a gap in the community and the impact was really amazing. We were hearing from parents and partners how much it was impacting their lives and their communities.
Favorite part of the Challenge?
My favorite part was to meet people from other states and listen to their projects and the creativity behind it. Just interacting with them, spending time with them.
