Frequently Asked Questions
Selection Process & Application
Yes! We'll be holding a session on May 29. Register here.
There are three parts of the selection process for Design Studio:
The written application stage runs from early May to early June
The first round interviews take place at the end of June
The final round of interviews take place in mid-July
The Design Studio application opens here on May 7th.
Please check this site in Fall 2025 for more information on the Launch selection process.
We are looking for you to bring your personal experience in education to this application. Applicants who can clearly articulate the change they are looking to make in Rochester and how they see that change manifesting in a school building are welcome! You can see a copy of all of the application questions here.
We are looking for candidates who have an idea for an innovative school that is not fully fleshed out. Candidates should be able to speak clearly about the problem they are looking to solve, the vision they've created to solve that problem, and their future school's connection to the community's vision. Candidates do not need multi-page school designs, schedules, hiring plans, student recruitment plans, etc.
The Design Studio welcomes a wide range of innovative ideas aimed at improving education in Rochester. Whether it's a new teaching approach, an innovative curriculum design, or a bold approach to designing classrooms, participants are encouraged to bring forward ideas that have the potential to make a significant and sustainable impact on student learning and well-being.
See here for the rubric we will use to choose candidates for Design Studio.
Phase I - Design Studio
Selected participants will be announced in the Summer of 2024. The Design Studio program spans approximately six months beginning in the Fall of 2024 during which participants will work collaboratively with facilitators to develop and implement their pilot initiatives. This program will require you to attend 3 weekend, in-person workshops, attend two virtual workshops, and do 5-8 hours of preparation work (i.e. reviewing articles, drafting plans, etc.) for each session.
No. Thanks to generous support from funders there is no cost to joining the program.
Participants of the Design Studio are not automatically eligible for the Launch Support program. Select participants will be invited to join Launch Support after the conclusion of the Design Studio.
Each participant in Design Studio will receive up to $5,000 to pilot their initiatives.
READY will work closely with participants to establish clear metrics and goals for their pilot initiatives. Success will be evaluated based on these metrics, which will include the scalability of the proposed solution.
Yes, the Design Studio cohort experience fosters collaboration and idea exchange among participants. Through structured sessions and networking opportunities, participants will have the chance to learn from and collaborate with other leaders passionate about transforming education in Rochester.
At the conclusion of Design Studio, select participants will have the opportunity to join Launch. In this phase, participants will receive a salary, coaching, and additional funding to further develop their ideas and potentially launch a school in Rochester.
Phase II - Launch
Yes. Candidates with fully fleshed out school designs who are looking to launch their model in Rochester can apply to the Launch Support program in 2025. Find out more about the program here.
Applications for Launch Support will open in Fall 2025. if you're not sure whether you should apply for Design Studio or Launch, reach out to bryant@bhadvising.com.