Texas schools or students who believe they have an innovative idea for improving educational opportunities in the state have until Jan. 15 to submit their proposals to the Rather Prize to win up to $10,000.

The annual contest awards the grant to a student, school, or educator whose proposed project best addresses the question, “What is your best idea to improve education in the state of Texas?”

What You Need To Know

  • The Rather Prize, named for Dan Rather, awards $10,000 each year to a Texas student, teacher, or administrator with an innovative idea aimed at improving educational opportunities in the state

  • The deadline to submit an application for the Rather Prize is Jan. 15

  • Winners of the 2021 Rather Prize will be announced in March at the South By Southwest EDU Conference in Austin

Dan Rather, a native Texan and award-winning journalist, best known for anchoring the CBS Evening News, started the fund in 2015 with the goal of supporting projects and ideas aimed at improving the state’s education system. In creating the fund, Rather praised his Texas education. He attended public schools in the Houston area and later launched his journalism career in the state.

Applicants must be a student in a Texas middle school, high school, or college, or a current or retired Texas state-certified teacher or administrator. Submissions for consideration may be made in writing or by video or other creative materials. Administrators of the prize ask that submissions describe the project and have a clear plan for its implementation.

The Rather Prize will announce the 2021 winner in March at the South By Southwest EDU Conference in Austin.

Last year’s Rather Prize went to Armin Salek, a teacher at Akins High School in Austin, whose legal program for students created a legal aid clinic. The program allows high school students hands-on experience working with cases under Salek and volunteer legal aids’ guidance. The program is the first of its kind in the United States. 

Previous prize winners include Ashley Ingalls, a student at Dallas Baptist University, for developing a money-management training program for students; Lake Dallas Elementary School’s Katie Landaverde for creating a morning workshop program to give young students an opportunity to explore interests outside school subjects taught by community members, teachers or other specialists. The first Rather Prize was awarded to Eastside Memorial High School in Austin in 2016 to start the Step Up Challenge program, which helps students get real-world work experience while in high school through mentoring, training, and other pathways.