Joan Ganz Cooney Center Sandbox for Literacy Innovations

The Joan Ganz Cooney Center Sandbox for Literacy Innovations is a six-month collaborative initiative developed by the Joan Ganz Cooney Center with generous support from the Walton Family Foundation. The Sandbox is designed to support early-stage edtech product teams in creating high-quality, research-informed literacy tools for children and youth. It brings together experts in literacy science, child development, and educational technology to provide guidance and consultation to teams building products that support English literacy development for children ages 3 to 17 in the United States. Participants in the program work closely with Cooney Center experts to embed evidence-based literacy pedagogy, apply co-design practices with children, and design for the whole child. During the six-month engagement, teams receive support to assess their products’ current developmental stage, co-design with children, and refine their roadmaps based on research insights and user feedback. Following the core engagement, participants continue periodic check-ins with the Cooney Center for an additional two years to support ongoing improvement and evaluate impact. To be eligible, applicants must be working on interactive technology or media that supports English literacy development, targeting children or youth (ages 3–17), and must have a product focused on the United States market. Participants must be able to commit to regular virtual meetings, in-person co-design sessions in New York City, and provide reporting and engagement support beyond the initial six-month period. Product teams should be in the early stages of development and open to collaborative design methods. There is no monetary compensation or funding provided through the Sandbox partnership. All participants are expected to cover their own costs. The Joan Ganz Cooney Center retains ownership of its work products but offers a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to partners for any work product incorporated into their own intellectual property. However, the use of the Center’s name, logos, or other branding is not permitted without prior written approval. Participation in the Sandbox does not imply endorsement by the Cooney Center or its affiliates, including Sesame Workshop. Applications are submitted via an online form and reviewed on a rolling basis, with two major review windows scheduled: one in summer/fall 2025 and another in winter/spring 2026. A limited number of teams (three to five) will be selected per cohort, with staggered program start dates. Applicants are encouraged to apply early within the window to maximize their chances of selection. Finalists will be invited to participate in an interview as part of the evaluation process. Information sessions are available to provide further insight into the program and answer questions from prospective applicants. Upcoming sessions include a Zoom meeting on July 28 at 12:00 pm ET and another on August 13 at 12:00 pm ET. The current application window closes on August 29, 2025. Further details, including partnership terms and FAQs, are available on the Cooney Center website or via linked documents associated with the Sandbox program.

Applicants are encouraged to apply early in the window to improve selection chances.