Frequently Asked Questions

Who Can Apply?

  • Any CPS faculty or staff member can apply on behalf of their school.

  • School teams typically include 3-7 members, drawing from administrators, faculty, staff, students, parents, and other community partners. 

  • Past participants in The Fund's Summer Design Program, Coach Design to Implement, or any past Design Challenge are strongly encouraged to apply.


How Do I Get Involved?

  • Recruit a team from your school.

  • Register for the 2026 Design Challenge to access the online learning platform, free live webinars, and expert coaching.

  • Submit your deliverables any time between January 21, 2026and the final deadline of April 15, 2026 (5:00 PM CT). Teams can work at their own pace to meet this final deadline.

What Do I have To Do?

  • Identify a design opportunity as a team that impacts students, caregivers, faculty, or community members.

  • Conduct empathy research (interviews, observations, and 'shadow a student' experiences) to refine your design opportunity.

  • Brainstorm and prototype solutions, then submit three milestone deliverables documenting your progress.

    Completing all three Milestones makes your team eligible for up to $10,000 in prizes, with a minimum award of $1,000 for completing the challenge.

Tell Me More About the Prizes

The Fund will award a total of $50,000, with the top five teams invited to a live Pitch Competition on May 8, 2025. All Finalist schools that present will be eligible for a base prize of $5,000, with awards as follows:

  • $10,000 for the top high school

  • $10,000 for the top elementary or middle school

  • One $1,500 Community Choice Award

  • Three $4,000 Awards Given to Finalists not receiving a Grand Prize

  • Three $2,000 Priority Investment Awards (finalist or non-finalists) for special focus areas:

    • Arts Integration

    • Artificial Intelligence (AI) Innovations

    • Inclusive and Supportive Learning Environments

    • Partnerships & Engagement

School teams may be eligible for a $4,000-$10,000 prize at the Pitch Competition, and an additional $2,000 Priority Investment Award or Community Choice Award. All schools who complete the challenge by submitting complete Milestones will receive a $1,000 Award.

What Are The Dates and Deadlines?

  • The 2026 Design Challenge opens for Team Leaders on December 5th, launches for all teams on January 21  and runs to April 15, 2025 (5:00 PM CT) when all deliverables are due for scoring. 

  • Milestone deliverables can be submitted at your own pace within this window, but will be time stamped and those arriving after April 15, 2026 at 5:00 PM will only be accepted based on approval by The Fund. 

  • Recommended professional learning and coaching dates will be provided upon registration. All teams are invited to request coaching and milestone submission review and feedback prior to April 15, 2025. 

    Five selected teams will be invited to present for prizes at the Live Pitch Competition and Awards Reception on May 7, 2026. 

    • Do I Need to Attend All Live Webinars and Coaching?

  • Attendance is not required for scoring eligibility, but highly recommended. Webinars cover design thinking best practices and milestone tips.

  • Coaching can be available for any teams participating at any point during the Design Challenge. These sessions can help teams clarify deliverables, support the team's design work, or receive feedback. Coaching sessions are flexible and can be scheduled outside of normal sessions if needed.

  • If the available coaching times do not work for your team, reach out to Tara Curry-Jahn by email to find an alternative schedule.

    • Who Should I Contact for More Information?