Announcing the first-ever (Inter)National Moonshot Grants

Launching 10 new bold ideas to design learning ecosystems that support human flourishing

In May 2024, over 200 of the world’s most forward-thinking public school leaders, learning scientists, tech developers, community organizers, and policymakers gathered in Pittsburgh at the Forge Futures summit. Over the course of two days, they explored the boundaries of the current education system and began drawing up plans for the future of learning.

Together, we dreamed up a future where learning is more engaging, relevant, and equitable for young people. We prototyped actions that can be taken today to catalyze movement toward this future. At the conclusion of the summit, Remake Learning invited participants to propose bold ideas for the future of learning that could be catalyzed with a $50,000 Moonshot Grant.

We received 32 total proposals and today we’re thrilled to announce recipients of our first ever (inter)national Moonshot Grants.

Learning Any Time, Anywhere: Testing Models to Provide Credit for Learning in Afterschool and Summer Programs, Afterschool Alliance

Their bold idea: Show the true value of high-quality out-of-school learning opportunities.

In collaboration with Beyond School Bells, Peter Kiewit Foundation, the Nebraska Department of Economic Development, Nebraska Extension, National Geographic Foundation, and the Nebraska Department of Education, Afterschool Alliance will develop multiple pathways for students to earn credits toward graduation through service learning, career exploration, and workforce development projects.

Community Connectors on Campus, ASU Foundation for A New American University

Their bold idea: Redefine the relationships between schools and the communities that surround them.

In collaboration with The Next Education Workforce initiative at Arizona State University’s Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College, Mesa Public Schools, and Point Park University, ASU Foundation for a New American University will create new school-based roles for Community Connectors, pre-service teachers who specialize in strengthening school-community partnerships.

Food for Thought: Cultivating Communities through Cultural Cuisine, City of Doncaster Council

Their bold idea: Empower ‘unconventional educators’ to share their skills.

In collaboration with Lakeside and Town Field Primary Schools, the City of Doncaster Council will organize teach-ins and skill-swap workshops where local experts in food science, ecology, and sustainability will lead intergenerational learning experiences centered around cultural cuisine.

Expanding the Team– Learning Ecosystems: Grow Who We See as Educators, Education Reimagined

Their bold idea: Challenge what it means to be an educator in a learning ecosystem.

In collaboration with Runway Green, Education Reimagined will develop a deeper and more comprehensive understanding of the core competencies of learning ecosystem educators and ways in which we can engage these valuable educators in new and diverse ways to support holistic outcomes for young people.

Central PA Learning Innovation Cluster, Ephrata Area School District

Their bold idea: Break down the silos that separate schools from the community.

In collaboration with Eastern York School District and Lancaster County STEM Alliance, Ephrata Area School District will form a learning innovation cluster in the Lancaster and York region to form an impactful learning ecosystem to ultimately create the education transformation needed for the 21st century and beyond.

Enhancing Merit-Based Learning through Place-Based Learning, Mineola Unified Free School District

Their bold idea: Replace grades with merit-based learning assessments.

In collaboration with Baldwin-Whitehall School District and Butler Area School District, Mineola Public Schools will develop a merit-based learning system through place-based curriculum that integrates local community resources, history, and environment into the learning experience.

Co-designing a future where every young person in every community thrives, National Equity Project

Their bold idea: Shift from adult-centered decision-making to youth-centered design.

In collaboration with several California CORE Districts, PACE, and Transcend, the National Equity Project will lead youth-adult design partnerships to challenge one-size fits all approaches to curriculum in California schools.

SYEP 2.0: Summer Youth Engagement Possibilities, National Summer Learning Association

Their bold idea: Make year-round learning the norm.

In collaboration with Horizons National, The XQ Institute, Knowledge to Power Catalysts Partners, and Allegheny Partners for Out-of-School Time, the National Summer Learning Association will pilot a process for teams of teachers and students to use the XQ competency framework to design learning experiences that begin during summer and echo throughout the year.

Collective Shift: Human-Centered AI for Learner-Centered Education, Next Generation Learning Challenges

Their bold idea: Harness the power of generative AI as a tool for schools, districts, and education systems of all kinds.

In collaboration with the Learner-Centered Collaborative and the National Equity Project, Next Generation Learning Challenges will leverage the power of generative AI to help school communities build learning and operating models that reflect and demonstrate the human-centered attributes of their graduate portraits.

UNBOUND Learning: Laying the Foundation to Reimagine Learning Across the Community in Northwest Arkansas, Scott Family Amazeum

Their bold idea: Make northwest Arkansas synonymous with learning.

In collaboration with The Northwest Arkansas Education Service Cooperative and the Creative Arkansas Community Hub & Exchange, Scott Family Amazeum will develop visionary and strategic plans for a connected community-based learning ecosystem in northwest Arkansas.

Congratulations to all of our Moonshot grantees! Each of these projects represents a bold idea with the potential to remake learning. Stay tuned to learn more about how these ideas unfold over the next year.


Support for Moonshot Grants is generously provided by The Grable Foundation, William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, Siegel Family Endowment, Richard King Mellon Foundation, and The Heinz Endowments.