Adult Literacy XPRIZE Communities Competition

Geographic Scope: United States (focus on rural and metropolitan communities)

Focus Areas:

• Distributing and promoting winning literacy apps to adult learners
• Recruiting low-literacy adults to download and use proven mobile learning applications
• Expanding access to adult literacy technology solutions
• Reaching 1,000,000 adult learners
• Serving adults in diverse communities (rural to metropolitan)

Background:
Second phase of the $7M Barbara Bush Foundation Adult Literacy XPRIZE. This competition incentivizes organizations, communities, and individuals to recruit adult learners to download and use apps developed by finalist teams in the main Adult Literacy XPRIZE. Addresses the fact that 36 million U.S. adults lack basic English literacy, with only 5% having access to educational services.

Prize Structure:

• Total Prize Pool: $1,000,000
• Milestone Awards: $500,000 split among 24 finalist teams for most innovative, feasible, and scalable plans
• Implementation Prize Pool: $500,000 for teams recruiting most adult learners to download and use apps

Milestone Award Winners (24 teams receiving $500,000):
901Readers, Adult Literacy Partners of Houston, Cedar Riverside Adult Education, Chicago Citywide Literacy Coalition, Coalition on Adult Basic Education (COABE), El Refugio – The Refuge, Essential Education, First Book, KANSEL, Laundry Literacy Coalition, Lit 417, Lit Fit NEO, The Literacy Council of Central Alabama, Literacy Services of Wisconsin (MKE), Makeosity Inc., National Affordable Housing Management Association (NAHMA), Napa Adult Literacy Alliance, North Texas Communities Competition Team, Philadelphia Freedom, ProLiteracy, Queens Borough Public Library, Southeast Michigan Region 10 Adult Learner, Westchester Library System, World Education

Eligible Apps:
Applications developed by proven finalist teams from main XPRIZE competition that demonstrated literacy gains

Eligibility:

• Applicants: Education institutions, nonprofits, NGOs, government agencies, companies, corporations, and individuals
• Geographic Focus: Rural communities to metropolitan centers across the United States
• Target Population: Low-literacy adults; emphasis on diverse geographies and backgrounds
• Required Activity: Recruit adult learners and distribute free learning apps

Contact:

• Lauren Sproull, Vice President of Communications: 850.562.5300 or Lauren.Sproull@barbarabush.org
• Eric Desatnik, XPRIZE Communications: prcontact@xprize.org
• Address: P.O. Box 14141, College Station, TX 77841-4141
• Phone: (979) 862-2251
• Email: bush.foundation@bush41.org

Application Process

Timeline:

• Application deadline: December 21, 2018
• All 46 teams recruited adult learners and distributed apps through August 31, 2019
• Grand prize winners announced fall 2019

Application Requirements:

• Submit most innovative, feasible, and scalable plans for app distribution
• Describe strategy for recruiting low-literacy adults to download apps
• Outline implementation plan for reaching target populations
• Detail community engagement and outreach approach

Evaluation Criteria for Milestone Awards ($500,000):

• Innovation of plan
• Feasibility of implementation
• Scalability of approach
• Ability to reach diverse populations

Evaluation Criteria for Implementation Prize ($500,000):

• Number of adult learners recruited to download apps
• Consistent app usage by participants
• Diversity of participants across geographic regions

Submit to:

• Communities Competition website at communities.xprize.org