Nominations Now Being Accepted for The 2018 Harold W. McGraw, Jr. Prize in Education

NEW YORK – The nomination window opened today for the 2018 Harold W. McGraw, Jr. Prize in Education, which honors education innovation, and has become one of the most prestigious awards in education since its founding in 1988. The Prize is administered through a partnership between The Harold W. McGraw, Jr. Family Foundation, McGraw-Hill Education and Arizona State University.
The public will have the opportunity to submit nominations by visiting McGrawPrize.com until November 17, 2017.

Several changes have been made to the McGraw Prize categories for 2018:

  • Nominations for the McGraw Prize will be accepted in three categories: Pre-K–12 Education, Higher Education and a new Learning Science Research
  • Nominees for the Learning Science Research category improve educational outcomes through learning science research, and are recognized for their sustained, long-term contributions to research that advances our knowledge and understanding of learning in diverse contexts. Learning science includes psychology, cognitive and neuroscience, data science and other disciplines that examine how people learn and how they can learn more effectively.
  • The former U.S. K-12 Education category has been expanded to include Pre-K in 2018, and the former “International Education” category has been rolled into the Pre-K–12 Education and Higher Education categories, which now accept nominees from around the world.

The Harold W. McGraw, Jr. Prize in Education annually recognizes outstanding individuals who have dedicated themselves to improving education through new approaches and whose accomplishments are making a difference today. Honorees receive an award of $50,000 and a bronze sculpture designed by students from Arizona State University. They also will be honored at an evening reception during the ASU+GSV Summit in San Diego, Calif., which will be held April 16-18, 2018.

Featured

  • Philadelphia Middle School Facility Earns LEED Gold Certification

    The Alternative Middle Years (AMY) at James Martin Middle School in Philadelphia, Penn., recently received a LEED Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council, according to a news release. The School District of Pennsylvania partnered with KSS Architects on the project.

  • Can AI Help Build Stronger Communities in Student Housing?

    Student housing success is shifting from operational performance to student experience, with belonging now at the center. A recent 2025 report underscores a growing emphasis on student well-being, community, and engagement, signaling that expectations now extend beyond logistics to ensure students feel supported in their living environments. AI is enabling that shift by reducing administrative workload and giving teams more time to focus on meaningful student engagement.

  • University of Kansas Breaks Ground on Entrepreneurship Hub

    The University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kan., recently held a groundbreaking ceremony for the new KU Entrepreneurship Hub, according to university news. The Hub is part of the university’s School of Business and will include spaces for experiential learning and programming.

  • USC Launches Major AI Initiative After $200M Gift

    The University of Southern California in Los Angeles, Calif., recently announced that it has launched a “transformational” new AI initiative thanks to a $200M gift, according to a news release. The project will leverage AI toward breakthroughs and innovations in subjects like the health sciences, business, security, and the arts.