LaSalle Catholic Nominated at 1 of 10 Schools in Iowa for Extraordinary Grant

On July 5, Chief Administrator Zachary Zeckser received a most welcome, if not too-good-to-be-true email.  The email stated that Governor Reynolds had nominated LaSalle Catholic as one of just ten schools to receive the Yass Award for Education Freedom.  Leery of its authenticity, Zeckser quickly contacted archdiocesan staff who confirmed that this meant he had some work to do in order to apply for this huge opportunity to strengthen and sustain LaSalle’s mission into the future.

The Yass Award for Education Freedom will distribute awards totaling $5 million to education providers in Arkansas, Iowa, and Oklahoma who have been nominated by their states’ governors for their ability to expand rapidly to meet the needs of parents utilizing their new education savings accounts. 

Throughout July and August, LaSalle Catholic and all of the other applicants will undergo an extensive, data-driven three-tier review process involving over 1,000 judges, assessing their alignment with the STOP principles and their potential contribution to the growing Yass Prize movement. 

The year's journey will culminate at an awards ceremony on December 13 in New York City, held in partnership with Forbes Media, where the 2023 finalists and The Yass Prize winner will be announced, thus marking another milestone in the quest for educational excellence and transformation for all students.  Zeckser anticipates knowing more about the response to LaSalle’s application in September when finalists will be named.  

At this point, it is in God’s hands, but LaSalle is honored to be recognized by the governor as a school that is uniquely well-prepared to welcome new students and offer them an educational opportunity that is sustainable, transformative, and outstanding!