School Incubator

Build the Schools Rochester Families Want and Need

Rochester students, families, educators, and community members have been clear: they want schools designed around what children need to thrive—not simply schools that look different. Together, let’s reimagine education.

Bring Your School Concept to Life

We conducted a community-based school design process to flesh out a vision for the new school models that Rochester wants and needs.

The READY School Incubator is how we find and back the leaders who will build Rochester’s next generation of schools- turning a bold idea into a ready-to-launch public school, with funding and expert support the whole way.

Two Programs to Achieve Quality Schools

READY School Incubator is a two-stage pathway that takes a bold idea and turns it into a ready-to-open public school—whether charter or district—with funding and expert support alongside you the whole way.

1 - DESIGN STUDIO

2 - LAUNCH

Why Join The Incubator?

Get funding and resources

to design, test, and build—not just to dream

Receive expert coaching

by nationally recognized partners at every stage

Join a rare opportunity

to take on the risk of starting a new school with unique support and stability from READY

Follow a clear pathway

from idea to open doors, with READY in your corner the whole way

DEVELOP AND TEST YOUR IDEA

Design Studio

An accelerated, 8-week design sprint for experienced education leaders who have the expertise to launch a school but want to sharpen a specific school concept before they commit.

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Over five short phases—mixing live working sessions with independent work and one-on-one coaching—you’ll:

Ground your model in the science of learning, liberatory design, and the real gaps Rochester families have identified
Sharpen your concept through empathy interviews with future students and families, and a clear theory of learning
Get inspired on an in-person visit to high-performing schools built around the kind of models Rochester needs
Pilot it for real—run a demand-based pilot with 8–10 students to see whether your idea resonates
Build a compelling pitch you can deliver to any stakeholder

APPLICATION & PROGRAM DATES

Fall 2026 Design Studio

WHO IS THIS PROGRAM FOR

This program is right for you if you’re a seasoned leader with the credibility to start a school, a promising (but not fully formed) idea aligned to what Rochester needs, and the drive to test it quickly.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Check out answers to our frequently asked questions about the program and candidacy here.

BUILD AND OPEN YOUR SCHOOL

Launch

A full-time, year-long fellowship program for leaders with a strong idea ready to write a detailed school proposal, gain authorization, and open their doors. Launch exists because how a school launches is highly predictive of its long-term success—so READY makes sure you begin with the foundations to thrive.

Exceptional candidates may be invited to skip Design Studio and go directly to Launch.

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

You’ll lead your school’s creation as an entrepreneurial founder, driving six major bodies of work:

School model & academic design—your mission, graduate profile, and academic program
Authorization—you'll own and write a proposal to secure approval for your school
Coalition & community support—authentic engagement that shapes your design
Startup planning & budget—a viable, multi-year financial and staffing plan
Governance—recruiting and preparing a strong founding board
Executive leadership—growing as a founder through coaching and customized leadership development

APPLICATION & PROGRAM DATES

Spring 2027 Design Studio

EXPERT COACHING & ASSISTANCE DETAILS

You won’t do it alone. Launch surrounds you with:

Weekly executive coaching and monthly strategy sessions with READY
Functional experts in finance, governance, facilities, and authorization
Immersive professional learning—convenings and school visits that sharpen your model
A flexible stipend for mission-critical needs, with unused funds rolling into your school startup grant
A workspace at READY's office in downtown Rochester

WHO THIS PROGRAM IS FOR

This program is right for you if you have a strong school concept and you’re ready to commit full-time to launching a well-designed new school that Rochester families have been waiting for.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Check out answers to our frequently asked questions about the program and candidacy here.

Ready to Build?

Together, we can build a Rochester where every child has access to a great school. If you’re an educator or entrepreneur with a connection to Rochester and a vision for what’s possible, we want to hear from you.