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Official Rules

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2023-24 Tools Competition

Official Rules

VOID WHERE PROHIBITED.

Updated: April 12, 2024

Goal

The 2023-2024 Tools Competition (the “Competition”) is focused on the discovery of new tools and technologies that can address pressing challenges in education, facilitate the improvement of student outcomes, and advance Learning Engineering.

Sponsor, Financial Supporters and Academic Partner

The Learning Agency LLC (the “Sponsor” or “we” or “us”), which is located at 715 H Street NE PWB 93369, Washington, DC 20002, is the sponsor and administrator of the Competition. For legal purposes, the financial supporters of the Competition (the “Financial Supporters”) are not sponsors, and are just providing financial support for the Competition and the awards and as such, are not responsible for the implementation of the Competition or the enforcement of these Official Rules (as modified from time to time, these “Rules”). Sponsor is working with Georgia State University and its cooperative research-organization (collectively, the “Academic Partner” ) to facilitate the administration of the Competition. In addition to other involvement in the Competition, the Academic Partner will directly distribute awards to select winners while other awards will be distributed by Sponsor. Winner will be notified as to which Sponsor or Academic Partner is distributing the award upon notification of winning. You acknowledge that neither the Academic Partner nor the Sponsor will be responsible or liable for any acts and omissions of the other.

Eligibility

Subject to these Rules, individuals and entities from any background who satisfy the eligibility requirements specific to their track are eligible to compete in the Competition, including students, teachers, researchers, small and large companies and not-for-profit foundations (collectively, the “Entrants” or “you” ). To the extent possible, the Sponsor will work with all Entrants to attempt to overcome any issues that may arise due to the international aspect of the Competition; however, each Entrant bears the ultimate responsibility for adherence to any applicable laws and compliance with these Rules.

In addition to the general eligibility requirements set forth in this section and other sections of these Rules, track specific eligibility requirements for each track are set forth in the “Competition Tracks and Eligibility” section of these Rules.

Individuals and entities residing in Belarus, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Russia, Syria, and the Crimea, Donetsk, and Luhansk regions of Ukraine are not eligible to participate in the Competition.

Individuals

To be eligible to participate in the Competition and be given an award as an individual, you must (a) be at least eighteen 18 years old, (b) be able to receive payments legally from the United States in US dollars, (c) be competing in a jurisdiction in which the Competition is not prohibited by applicable law; (d) have a bank account into which funds can legally be deposited from the United States in US dollars (or if part of a Team, the Team or a participant on the Team has a bank account); (e) not have withdrawn, been terminated, or disqualified from the Competition; and (f) be fully in compliance with these Rules.

Entity

To be eligible to participate in the Competition and be given an award as an Entrant that is an entity, you must (a) be validly existing, duly organized, and in good standing in the jurisdiction of your organization, (b) be able to receive payments legally from the United States in US dollars, (c) be competing in a jurisdiction in which the Competition is not prohibited by applicable law; (d) have a bank account into which funds can legally be deposited from the United States in US dollars; (e) not have withdrawn, been terminated, or disqualified from the Competition; and (f) be in full compliance with these Rules.

Teams

Individuals and entities, otherwise eligible to participate in the Competition and be given an award, may form and submit a team entry (a “Team”). Each Team member must be clearly identified on the Team’s submission form for the team to be eligible and must identify a single point of contact for the Team (the “Team Lead”). Team awards, as determined by the Sponsor, will be distributed solely to the designated Team Lead for further distribution to Team members. Sponsor’s sole obligation as to Team awards is to distribute to the Team Lead, and Sponsor shall have no obligation or liability for any distribution of Team awards to Team members. In the event a dispute regarding the identity of the Entrant who actually submitted the entry cannot be resolved to the Sponsor’s satisfaction, the affected entry will be deemed ineligible.

Ineligible

Employees of the Sponsor and each of the Financial Supporters, Competition and fulfillment agencies, directors, and officers, and each of their respective immediate family members and persons living in their same household (whether legally related or not), are not eligible to participate in the Competition or be given an award.

It will be Sponsor’s sole decision as to whether any eligibility requirement has or has not been met. We may require evidence or confirmation from Entrants at any time, including before administering awards.

Official Rules

Participation in this Competition constitutes each Entrant’s full and unconditional agreement to these Rules and Sponsor’s decisions, which are final and binding in all matters related to the Competition.
These Rules are subject to change at any time. We will use commercially reasonable efforts to notify you of any changes to these Rules, including by posting the modified Rules on our website at https://tools-competition.org/ (the “Site”). Your continued participation in the Competition after the posting of changes constitutes your binding acceptance of such changes. You should check our Site frequently for any updates to these Rules. IF AT ANY TIME YOU DO NOT AGREE WITH THIS COMPETITION OR THESE RULES, PLEASE IMMEDIATELY WITHDRAW FROM, AND TERMINATE YOUR PARTICIPATION IN, THE COMPETITION.

Competition Timeline

The Competition shall run according to the below timeline. Sponsor’s computer is the official time-keeping device for the Competition.
BenchmarkTimeline*
Competition OpenSeptember 21, 2023
Entries due**November 10, 2023 (11:59:59 pm PDT)
Select entries invited to submit detailed proposalsDecember 8, 2023
Detailed proposals dueFebruary 2, 2024 (11:59:59 pm PDT)
Finalists selectedApril 5, 2024
Pitches with judges***Late-April to early-May 2024
Winners notifiedLate-May 2024
Product Review Day***Fall 2024 (TBA)
Winners to provide surveys, phone calls and other written deliverables as part of the Impact StudyOngoing following notification that Entrant has won until submission of assessment of tool
Winners submit a final report as part of the Impact Study

12 months following notification that Entrant has won

* Timeline is subject to change by Sponsor in Sponsor’s sole discretion.
** Sponsor may accept late entries in Sponsor’s sole discretion.
*** All events will occur virtually unless otherwise noted.

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

Theme and Criteria

The Competition seeks to leverage technology, data, and learning science to meet the urgent needs of learners across generations.

Competition Tracks and Eligibility

Entrants will be required to select one of the following track(s) in which their submission will be primarily evaluated. Different tracks may have different total award amounts, depending on funder priorities. Certain tracks may be more or less competitive than others depending on final funding allocation and the number of Entrants in each track. Tracks have varying target users and competitive priorities.

The Competition tracks include:
  • Competitors worldwide are eligible.
  • Competitors worldwide are eligible.
  • Only competitors based in the United States are eligible.
  • Competitors in this track must provide an assurance that their tool or technology will be made available to users for free or at cost.
  • Competitors worldwide are eligible
  • Competitors in this track must provide an assurance that their tool or technology will be made available to users for free or at cost.
  • Competitors worldwide are eligible, provided that their tool or technology serves or intends to serve users in the United States.
Submissions will be evaluated within their designated track based on Sponsor’s chosen criteria, which may be published and revised from time to time by Sponsor in its sole discretion. Examples of such criteria may include:
  • Potential impact and likelihood to improve learning
  • Attention to equity to support learning of historically marginalized populations
  • Demand from students, teachers and parents
  • Ability to support rapid experimentation and continuous improvement
  • Ability to scale to additional users and/or domains
  • Team passion and readiness to execute
  • Commitment to implement an assessment of their tool over the year following the award

Size of the Award

Entrants are encouraged to seek awards in the award level that is best suited for their specific capabilities and needs. Entrants will be subject to different requirements depending on the award level in which they are competing. Entrants seeking awards in the highest award level will be subject to the most rigorous requirements and aggressive deliverables. 

 

Entrants should use the eligibility quiz made available by Sponsor to help decide the most appropriate award level in which to compete (the “Eligibility Quiz” ).

 

Award levels include:

  • Catalyst Phase Awards: $50,000: These awards are aimed at new Entrants with early stage ideas or products. This may also include Entrants with an existing tool with a non-existent or limited user base.
  • Growth Phase Awards: $150,000: These awards are designed for Entrants that have a minimum viable product with some users and scale.
  • Transform Phase Awards: $300,000: These awards are designed for established platforms with 10,000 or more users.

Implementation Impact Prize for Research Partnership. In addition to the award levels, Sponsor and applicable Financial Supporters shall consider Growth Phase and Transform Phase competitors in the Learning Science Research track to select one or more winners to receive a supplemental award of $100,000, for such winner(s) to implement their product in a school setting, in a district or consortium of districts with at least 10,000 students, of which the majority come from historically marginalized populations. The research plan must include:

  • Co-design of research questions
  • Data collection from at least 3,000 students by Year 2
  • A strategy to incorporate the findings from the research into district instruction or program

Implementation Impact Prize for Partnership with Calbright College. In addition to the award levels, Sponsor and Calbright College, a Financial Supporter, shall consider Growth Phase and Transform Phase competitors in the Engaging Adult Learners in Higher Education track to select one or more winners to receive a supplemental award of $100,000, for such winner(s) to partner with Calbright College. To be eligible for this award, competitors must:

  • Propose a partnership to conduct research with, co-design, user-test, pilot, or validate their product in partnership with Calbright College;
  • Propose a tool that supports learners in a fully online learning environment;
  • Serve or intend to serve learners in the State of California.

Implementation Impact Prize for Pre-School Partnership. In addition to the award levels, Sponsor and applicable Financial Support shall consider Growth Phase or Transform Phase competitors in the Instructional Coaching for Early Childhood Education track to select one or more winners to receive a supplemental award of $100,000, for such winner(s) to form or expand a partnership to co-design, user-test, pilot, or validate their product in publicly-funded preschool settings.

OpenAI Learning Impact Prize. The OpenAI Learning Impact Prize will be awarded to spur innovation leveraging artificial intelligence for education solutions. You will work with OpenAI to leverage AI in your product. As described in the “Entries” section below, if you select to have your entry and proposal be considered by OpenAI for the OpenAI Learning Impact Prize, your entry and proposal will be considered by OpenAI for such a supplemental award. The winner of the supplemental award will be selected by OpenAI. The OpenAI Learning Impact Prize will consist of a supplemental cash award of $100,000 from OpenAI, OpenAI API credits, and technical assistance from OpenAI engineers. OpenAI, not Sponsor, will pay the supplemental award directly to the winner.

The Sponsor may, in its sole discretion, increase the amount of any awards.

Entries

Initial entries of proposals to the Competition must be submitted using the online portal before the deadline indicated above.

As part of your entry form, you can also indicate whether you wish for your entry to be considered by Sponsor for an Implementation Impact Prize or by OpenAI for the OpenAI Learning Impact Prize. Should you choose for your entry to be considered for such supplemental awards, you will be required to complete additional requirements when you submit your detailed proposal for the Competition.

All proposals must be original to the Entrant (or the applicable Team). By submitting a proposal, Entrant represents that such proposal and any information in the proposal does not violate the rights of any third party, including without limitation intellectual property rights.
In participating in the Competition, you agree (i) to provide true, accurate, current, and complete information about yourself (and your Team as applicable) and (ii) to maintain and promptly update such information, including your proposal, to keep it true, accurate, current and complete at all times.

You understand that any material misrepresentation, including omissions, may disqualify you from the Competition and consideration for an award.

Cancellation of the Competition

The Sponsor reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to cancel, terminate, modify, extend or suspend this Competition should any virus, bugs, non-authorized human intervention, fraud or other causes beyond its reasonable control corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness or proper conduct of the Competition, and no compensation will be payable.

Process

The Competition will have a three-phase review, each with increasingly intensive requirements.
  • Phase 1 Initial Screen. Entrants will submit a description of their proposal using a designated form that includes the award level requested and a description of themselves and/or their team. Entrants are encouraged to take the Eligibility Quiz that will help them determine the most appropriate award level to request. A certain number of Entrants will be asked to continue to Phase 2. We have not put a limit on the number of Entrants that could be asked to continue to Phase 2 because we want the flexibility to be able to give as many meritorious proposals as possible the opportunity to succeed.
  • Phase 2 Detailed Proposal. Submit a detailed proposal, including a budget and plan for execution. The judges will review and select a certain number of finalists. We have not put a limit on the number of finalists because we want the flexibility to support as many meritorious proposals as possible.
  • Phase 3 Pitch. Finalists prepare a pitch and present to a panel of judges. Judges will provide recommendations for the winners. Using these recommendations and other considerations, the Sponsor will make the final determination of the winners and the amount of the awards to be given.
  • Impact Study of Funded Tool. All winners will, on an ongoing basis during and until the end of the 12 month period after being named as a winner, conduct an evaluation of their tool with the Sponsor and the Academic Partner that conforms to the guidance and requirements of the Sponsor and Academic Partner (the “Impact Study”). The Impact Study will include without limitation regular phone calls, surveys, other written deliverables, and a final report.

Awards

All awards, other than the OpenAI Learning Impact Prize, will be paid as follows. 50% will be paid after winners are announced. The remaining 50% may be paid after Product Review Day, depending on whether the winner has made sufficient progress based on their plan for execution and is effectively conducting their assessment by the Product Review Day as determined by Sponsor in its sole discretion. The OpenAI Learning Impact Prize may be paid out on a different schedule, at OpenAI’s sole discretion.

The awards shall be paid by check or direct deposit or as otherwise agreed between a winner and the Sponsor.

All of Sponsor’s decisions regarding the winners of an award (including any supplemental awards), including without limitation whether the winner met the eligibility requirements for the award, the size of the award and whether the winner will receive the second half of their award, are final and binding in all respects. Reasons that may lead Sponsor to cause a winner to forfeit an award include, without limitation, failure of the winner to meet eligibility requirements, failure of the winner to submit any required materials or documentation, failure of the winner to meet any deadlines, failure of the winner to perform and submit the required assessment of the funded tool, failure of the winner to perform its ongoing obligations as to the funded tool, and failure of the winner to otherwise comply with these Rules.

Notification of Winners

All potential winners will be notified via email, on or about the date indicated above. “Notification” is deemed to have occurred immediately upon sending of an e-mail. In order for a potential winner to claim their award, the potential winner must respond within two (2) days of Notification accepting their award and may be required to sign and return additional documents within five (5) days of the date of Notification. Failure to comply within this time period, or if award notification is returned as non-deliverable or not returned properly executed, or if a potential winner is found to be ineligible or not in compliance with these Rules, will result in the potential winner forfeiting the award and being disqualified and an alternate potential winner being selected from among remaining eligible Entrants.

Competition Publicity

By participating in the Competition, and to the extent not prohibited by law or regulation, you grant the Sponsor a non-exclusive right (a) to use your name and likeness in connection with this Competition, including on our Site and marketing materials and (b) to publish and otherwise display materials submitted to the Competition. Being selected for Phase 3 or acceptance of an award constitutes permission (except where prohibited by law or regulation) to use such winners’ names, likenesses, biographical data and statements for advertising and publicity purposes without notice or additional compensation.

If you submit a statement, photograph, logo, video clip or other materials in connection with the Competition (collectively, “Content”):

  • You warrant and agree that we have the right to publish and communicate to the public the Content in any media including, but not limited to, online, at all times without restriction or limitation throughout the world and not only for the purposes of the Competition
  • You acknowledge that we may edit the Content in our sole discretion;
  • You agree that we have the right to use Entrants’ names, likenesses and other personal information in conjunction with the Content; and
  • You unconditionally waive your right to seek or obtain an injunction to prevent or restrict our use of the Content.

Compliance with Laws

Each Entrant must fully comply with all applicable local, regional, national, and international laws, orders, directives, ordinances, treaties, rules, declarations, decrees, orders, enactments, judgments, regulations or other binding restrictions issued by any legislative, judicial or administrative body, whether effective before or after the effective date of the Competition. The Sponsor shall not be responsible for providing to any Entrant any advice or counsel, legal or otherwise, with regard thereto.

Taxes

Each Entrant shall be solely responsible and liable for all international, Federal, state, and local taxes arising from any award that may be given.

For non-US citizens, Sponsor may withhold certain amounts from the award as required by tax laws, reducing the total amount received by winning Entrants. The Sponsor will determine the withholding percentage after winners submit appropriate tax forms.

Privacy

Each Entrant agrees to the collection, processing and storage of his or her personal information by the Sponsor for purposes of this Competition and as otherwise described in any then-current posted privacy policy. We may use this information (a) in connection with the Competition, including for marketing, (b) as necessary for the purposes of our legitimate interests (or those of a third party), (c) as necessary to comply with a legal or regulatory obligation and (d) for any other purpose not prohibited by applicable law. We may share this information with others associated with the Competition and otherwise without restriction to the extent not prohibited by law. We will not sell your personal information. All personal information collected will be treated in accordance with all applicable law.

Confidential Information

No entries, proposals or other materials or information submitted or provided by Entrants to the Sponsor in connection with the Competition, including any proposals, documents and communications (collectively, the “Submitted Information”) will be considered confidential information, except as specifically provided in the terms of any then-current posted privacy policy. The Sponsor may disclose any Submitted Information to the Academic Partner, the Financial Sponsors, and each of their employees, contractors, consultants, independent subject matter experts, judges and other organizations without restriction, including to evaluate proposals for the Competition. Please carefully consider the information included in the Submission Materials. If you have any doubt about the wisdom of disclosure of any confidential or proprietary information, you should consult with your legal counsel and take any steps you deem necessary to protect your confidential information or intellectual property.

Indemnification

Each Entrant and award recipient agrees to release, defend, indemnify and hold harmless the Sponsor, the Academic Partner, the Financial Sponsors and each of their respective officers, employees, directors, parent and related companies, affiliates, subsidiaries and any other companies participating in the administration or fulfillment of the Competition (collectively, “Released Parties”) from liability of any kind or nature for any injuries, damages or losses of any kind or any other costs or expenses resulting from participation in this Competition, or acceptance, possession or use, misuse of an award or parts thereof, including, without limitation, any injury, damage death, loss or accident to person or property.

The Released Parties are not responsible for any printing, typographical, mechanical, human or other errors in these Rules, in the administration of the Competition, in the announcement of the award winners, and/or in any advertising or other associated Competitional materials in connection with the Competition. Further, the Released Parties are not responsible for technical, hardware, software, electronic, network, telephone or other communications malfunctions, errors or failures of any kind, errors in transmission, lost or unavailable network connections, telephone connections, dropped dial-up internet connections, interrupted broadband, cable, or wireless internet connections, cell phone dropped calls, unauthorized human intervention, traffic congestions, incomplete or inaccurate capture of entry information (regardless of cause) or failed, incomplete, garbled, jumbled or delayed transmissions which may limit or restrict an entrant’s ability to enter the Competition, including any injury or damage to participant’s or any other person’s phone or other electronic computing or telephone equipment, or other matter relating to or resulting from participation in this Competition.

Conflict of Interest

Individuals participating as reviewers or judges are required to disclose potential conflicts of interest to organizers. Competition organizers reserve the right to determine if a conflict of interest is present.
If a conflict of interest is identified, reviewers and judges will abstain from evaluating and/or discussing that proposal with fellow judges. Potential conflicts of interest may include:
  • The reviewer, judge, or a member of their immediate family has financial interest in the outcome of the proposal.
  • The reviewer or judge works for an organization that has a financial interest in the proposal.
  • The reviewer or judge has a personal relationship with a member of the proposal team that could affect the impartial evaluation of the proposal.
  • The reviewer or judge has a professional relationship with a member of the proposal team that could affect the impartial evaluation of the proposal.

Governing Law and Dispute Resolution

All issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and enforceability of these Rules or the rights and obligations of Entrants, Sponsor or the Released Parties in connection with the Competition will be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law rules or provisions that would cause the application of any other state’s laws. The parties hereby consent to exclusive jurisdiction and venue of the courts located in Washington, D.C. in any action to enforce (or otherwise relating to) these Rules or relating to the Competition. EACH PARTY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL ACTION, PROCEEDING, CAUSE OF ACTION OR COUNTERCLAIM ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO ANY CLAIM OR OTHERWISE IN CONNECTION WITH THESE OFFICIAL RULES OR THE COMPETITION.

BY ENTERING THE COMPETITION, EACH ENTRANT AGREES THAT TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW: (A) ANY AND ALL DISPUTES, CLAIMS AND CAUSES OF ACTION ARISING OUT OF OR CONNECTED WITH THE COMPETITION, OR ANY AWARD GIVEN, WILL BE RESOLVED INDIVIDUALLY, WITHOUT RESORT TO ANY FORM OF CLASS ACTION; (B) ANY AND ALL CLAIMS, JUDGMENTS AND AWARDS WILL BE LIMITED TO ACTUAL THIRD-PARTY, OUT-OF-POCKET COSTS INCURRED, (IF ANY), NOT TO EXCEED TWO HUNDRED FIFTY DOLLARS ($250.00), BUT IN NO EVENT WILL ATTORNEYS’ FEES BE AWARDED OR RECOVERABLE; (C) UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES WILL ANY ENTRANT BE PERMITTED TO OBTAIN ANY AWARD FOR, AND ENTRANT HEREBY KNOWINGLY AND EXPRESSLY WAIVES ALL RIGHTS TO SEEK, PUNITIVE, INCIDENTAL, EXEMPLARY, CONSEQUENTIAL OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, LOST PROFITS, AND/OR ANY RIGHTS TO HAVE DAMAGES MULTIPLIED OR OTHERWISE INCREASED; AND (D) ENTRANTS’ REMEDIES ARE LIMITED TO A CLAIM FOR MONEY DAMAGES (IF ANY) AND ENTRANT IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT TO SEEK INJUNCTIVE OR EQUITABLE RELIEF. SOME JURISDICTIONS DO NOT ALLOW THE LIMITATIONS OR EXCLUSION OF LIABILITY, SO THE ABOVE MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU.

MISCELLANEOUS

The names of individuals, groups, companies, products, and services mentioned herein, and any corresponding likenesses, logos and images thereof reproduced herein, have been used for identification purposes only and may be the copyrighted properties and trademarks of their respective owners. The mention of any individual, group or company does not imply any association with or endorsement by such individual, group or company or the manufacturer or distributor of such product or service and, except as otherwise indicated, no association or endorsement is intended or should be inferred. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of these Rules will not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision. In the event that any provision of these Rules is determined to be invalid or otherwise unenforceable or illegal, the other provisions will remain in effect and will be construed in accordance with their terms as if the invalid or illegal provision were not contained herein. Sponsor’s failure to enforce any term of these Rules will not constitute a waiver of that provision. To the extent that there is a conflict between these Rules and any terms of use or other agreement posted on the Site or otherwise, these Rules control.

© 2023 The Learning Agency LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Phase II of the 2025 Tools Competition is open. Proposals are due Jan 16, 2025.