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PrizeWhere: NationalNational: schools in any US state$Who gets the money: Goes to a teacher and the studentOpen

Stossel in the Classroom

Student Essay Contest

A free essay contest on current issues where students in grades 5 to 12 can win up to $2,500, and teachers earn Amazon gift cards when their students enter.

Amount
Students: $2,500 first, $1,000 second, $500 third in each division, plus smaller awards. Teachers: $50 to $150 Amazon gift cards
Can a for-profit school apply?
?Unclear: ask the funder
Deadline
Mar 12, 2027 (152 days left)
Who this fits
Private school · Microschool · Homeschool co‑opStudents in grades 5 to 12 in the U.S. or Canada. Students can enter on their own, so homeschoolers can take part; teachers earn gift cards for their students' entries.?Religious schools: not stated, ask the funder
New schools
Brand-new schools can apply
Where
National: schools in any US state
Last checked
Oct 10, 2026on stosselintheclassroom.org
Apply on the funder’s site↗(opens stosselintheclassroom.org in a new tab)Add to calendarAdd deadline to my calendar

Unconfirmed: check with the funder

We couldn’t confirm these on an official page. Treat them as open questions, not facts.

  • ?The page doesn't name private or homeschool students; eligibility rests on grade level and residency.

How to apply

  1. Step 1: Pick one of the posted topics
  2. Step 2: Write the essay (students can submit themselves, or the teacher submits for the class)
  3. Step 3: Submit by March 12, 2027

Funders change their requirements. Check the official page before you apply. Getting ready? See what funders usually ask for.

Who can apply

“Students may submit on their own, or teachers may submit entries for their students.”
In the funder’s own words, from stosselintheclassroom.org, checked Oct 10, 2026.

Two divisions: middle school (grades 5 to 8) and high school (grades 9 to 12). A teacher with 30+ submissions gets a $50 Amazon gift card, the teacher with the most submissions gets $150, and each student entry puts the teacher in a drawing for ten $50 cards. Finalists do a short remote interview. There are also a video contest and an AI Challenge (students in the AI Challenge can't also enter the essay contest).

  • Student in grades 5 to 12
  • U.S., Canada or U.S. military address
  • Finalists join a short remote interview

Timing

Submit by 11:59 p.m. Eastern, March 12, 2027. Winners announced May 31, 2027.

Not legal or tax advice. Whether your school should be for-profit or a nonprofit, or take on a loan, is a decision for your CPA or attorney. Always confirm the details on the funder’s own page before you apply.

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Homebook Funding Helper

This is not legal, tax or financial advice. Whether your school should be for-profit or a nonprofit, or take on a loan, is a decision for your CPA or attorney. Always confirm the details on the funder’s own page before you apply.

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