Deadline: 23-May-23

Is your education organization eager to strengthen the evidence-base of its learning solution? Apply for support from expert researchers and social entrepreneurs who will advise you and build your approach to strengthening your evidence-base.

For the 2023 LEAP Challenge, the Jacobs Foundation and MIT Solve welcome applications from education organizations (Project Hosts) with learning solutions serving children ages 2-12 that are focused on demonstrating the effectiveness of its solution and accelerating its impact through a stronger connection to evidence.

LEAP is an initiative by the Jacobs Foundation and MIT Solve that brings together researchers, social entrepreneurs, and education ventures to advance evidence-based learning solutions that help children thrive.

Benefits

Benefits of hosting a LEAP project include:

• Access to a global pool of research and social entrepreneur Fellows who apply their knowledge and skills to support your education solution’s evidence journey;
• A final report that details tailor-made research recommendations (guidance, strategies, resources, and/or tools) that inform your approach to strengthen the evidence-base of your education solution;
• Professionally-managed project facilitation provided by MIT Solve, allowing you to focus solely on the most critical elements of the 12-week project;
• Valuable networking opportunities across the global cohort of LEAP Fellows and Project Hosts;
• A $5,000 stipend to compensate for time spent hosting the LEAP Project.

What happens if my organization is selected?

• Organizations selected as Project Hosts will attend a three-day virtual LEAPathon event where they will meet with LEAP Fellows, engage in project refinement sessions, and match with up to four Fellows. The 12-week project sprints will kick off in two waves: five projects will begin in September 2023 and five projects will begin in January 2024.

Eligibility Criteria

• Project Hosts are education organizations (for-profit, non-profit, or hybrid models) with learning solutions that:
  • Serve children ages 2-12
  • Are from anywhere in the world*
    • *With the exception of United States embargoed countries: US law prevents MIT Solve from accepting applications from people who are ordinarily resident in Iran, Cuba, Syria, North Korea, or Crimea, and to parties blocked by the US Treasury Department.
• Are eager to demonstrate the effectiveness of its education solution and accelerate the solution’s impact through a stronger connection to evidence.
• Though not an eligibility requirement, they have a special interest in applications from education organizations with solutions that embrace learning variability in typically developing children aged 2-12.
• To be eligible for LEAP, Project Hosts must apply with an education solution (product or program) in one of the following stages of development:
  • Prototype: An organization building and testing its product or program, but which is not yet serving anyone.
  • Pilot: An organization testing a product or program with a small number of users.
  • Growth: An organization with an established product or program that is rolled out in one or more communities.

For more information, visit Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).