Ark
Educate
About Us
ARK Educate
The ARK Education Initiative
is a nonprofit organization, founded by ARK Invest's CEO and CIO, Cathie Wood in 2021. Through the lens of technologically enabled innovation, we build student agency and work to reform education practices in a rapidly changing world.
ARK Educate's commitment to vertical alignment and mediated learning allow for an inclusive and relevant approach to a diverse and growing population of schools.
California
Notre Dame Academy
Grades 6, 7 & 8
Notre Dame Academy began implementing Ark Educate’s Innovation & Science Curriculum with sixth grade students in the fall of 2022 school year. After a successful launch Notre Dame expanded the program to include seventh and eighth grade.
The Regal School
Grade 6 & 7
In the Fall of 2024, the Regal School opened and was excited to implement Ark Educate’s Innovation & Science Curriculum with their inaugural sixth grade class. As the 2025 school year begins their partnership with ARK grows as the inaugural class moves on to seventh grade.
“I found my students were captivated by the idea of exploring real-world issues and trying to find solutions to those challenges. This created space for empathy, curiosity, and creativity. Project-first learning is definitely something I have come to appreciate and value. It made the teaching and learning in my lab relevant, tangible, and accessible to my students. That is something more educational spaces need in today's world.”
~ Manny Guardado, Notre Dame Academy
Connecticut
Jericho Partnership
Grades 1 - 8
In 2019, Cathie Wood and analysts from ARK Invest led seminars at Jericho introducing students to disruptive technology. From this, Cathie’s vision for the Innovation Foundation (now ARK Educate) began to form. Subsequently, Innovation Foundation educators led a 2021 Summer Program at Jericho on 3D Printing and Entrepreneurship. By January 2024, Jericho and ARK Educate implemented a year-round after-school and summer camp innovation curriculum for multi-aged students. Technology topics have included 3D printing, Drones, Coding, Solar and Electric Vehicles, Energy Generation and Storage.
One of the things we’re most excited about at Jericho this year is the quality of the programming we’re able to offer the at-risk youth we serve. And that is, in no small part, thanks to Jericho’s partnership with ARK Education Initiative.
- Lisa Siedlecki, Co-Executive Director, Jericho Partnership
Hudson Country Montessori School
Grades 4 - 8
In the fall of 2024 Hudson Country Montessori school partnered with Ark Educate to introduce an innovation curriculum to its Upper Elementary and Middle School students. Ark Educate created a tailored program including 3D Printing and Entrepreneurship for the elementary students and a series of modules for Middle School which demonstrate the ability of disruptive technologies such as 3D printing and drones to help solve real world problems.
After completing the DIY Water Filtration Module, students used their knowledge to design and 3D print a fish tank vacuum that would clean the fish tank without removing the useful microbes. Innovation solves problems!
In fall 2026, Middle School students will enter the second year of their innovation journey, exploring Artificial Intelligence - how it works, where it appears in daily life, and the ethical questions it raises.
Chiaravalle Academy at Enfield Montessori School
Grades 7 & 8
In 2025, Chiaravalle Academy partnered with ARK Educate to launch a year-long Middle School curriculum in 3D printing and entrepreneurship. Students are identifying real-world problems and developing innovative solutions with 3D printing. Their journey will culminate in an Innovation Fair in May.
Florida
Pinellas County Middle Schools
Grades 6, 7, 8
In 2022 middle schools in Pinellas County FL launched a pilot program with Ark Educate to implement Ark Educate’s Innovation & Science curriculum modules with 2000 sixth grade students. In the spring of 2022, the Foundation was honored for our work by receiving The District Partner of the Year Award at the Pinellas Education Foundation’s fifth annual Changemaker’s Event. In subsequent years the pilot was expanded to include seventh grade in 2023 and eighth grade in 2024. Over three years, Ark Educate served roughly 13,000 middle school students across Pinellas County.
“Working alongside the Ark Education Initiative has been life changing. I have learned so much about Innovation and how best to engage and inspire students. In addition I have learned what it is to truly have a growth mindset.”
~ Steven Trudell, Teacher, Pinellas County Schools
Montana
Middle Creek Montessori
Grades 4, 5, 6
In 2024 Middle Creek Montessori school began implementing Ark Educate's 3D Printing and Entrepreneurship curriculum with their Upper Elementary students. This module combines aspects of disruptive technology, innovation mindset and design thinking with the foundations of what it means to be an entrepreneur. Students will showcase their innovations at an Innovation Fair in the spring of 2025.
In the 2025–26 school year, Middle Creek Montessori celebrates the launch of its inaugural seventh-grade class. ARK will continue supporting the growth of the school and looks forward to introducing innovation programming at the Middle School level later this year.
"It wasn't long after the 3D printer had been introduced to our classroom that it became something students began to regard as one of their own tools not just for creation but for problem solving. Recently we were working on a project that needed a funnel, and for the life of us we couldn't find the funnel we thought we had. The student who seemed most frustrated surprised us all when two days later, she presented an original and quite handsome 3D printed funnel she’d designed herself."
~ Jessica, Middle Creek Montessori
International
Ministry of Education for the Republic of El Salvador
Cycle 1, Grade 1 - Introduction to Innovation
Cycle 2, Grade 4 - Introduction to Artificial Intelligence
Cycle 3, Grade 7 - Applications of Artificial Intellgience
In January of 2025 the Ministry of Education and ARK Educate embarked on an ambitious pilot program to introduce a unique innovation curriculum to public school students in San Salvador. This school year, first, fourth and seventh grade students will be implementing a specially designed innovation curriculum, specifically focused on the process of innovation and artificial intelligence. Over the next two years the program will expand to include first through ninth grade students with a goal of reaching all public schools across the country.
“Innovation is a skill our students should have. We are aligning ARK Educate’s materials with the elementary curriculum and integrating innovation within our routines so students can practice it every single day.”
~ Wilfredo Alexander Granados
National Director of Curriculum
Ministry of Education
Mission
ARK Educate's mission is to educate through the lens of technologically enabled innovation, preparing and inspiring students, teachers, and families to be on the right side of change.
ARK Educate aims to transform education by placing equal importance on content and process for teachers and students. Our curriculum uses disruptive innovation as a vehicle for learning and mindset expansion. The pillars of our organization – education, mentorship, partnership, and funding span four core areas — curriculum development, teacher training, teacher and administrator support, and community and business partnerships. Our curriculum empowers students to lead their own learning using problem-first thinking to solve problems in the context of disruptive innovation in a rapidly changing world.
We provide educational materials to schools and districts interested in teaching subject area content through strategies that promote an Innovation Mindset and higher-order thinking skills. We believe all students must become lifelong learners empowered by knowledge and the ability to think critically at higher levels. We unite community leaders into common causes, helping focus educational efforts.
With the global economy undergoing the most extensive technological transformation in history, young people are in a critical position to become drivers of our changing world. This vision begins with transforming education to support an understanding of the technologically enabled disruptive innovations shaping our world. Witnessing the transformational power of innovation and offering a comprehensive approach to education from early childhood through adulthood is the most effective way of preparing for our rapidly changing world.
Vision
To build a global educational community that creates, shares, and supports curricula, preparing teachers and students to become lifelong learners and leaders of our changing world.
Using a thematic approach aligned with students’ stages of development, our goal is to develop an Innovation Mindset in students and teachers.
Anticipated Outcomes in Schools:
1
To increase achievement outcomes at new and higher levels.
2
To increase student engagement with a curriculum that proves its relevance and importance in students' lives and measurably reflects an increase in critical thinking skills and academic enthusiasm.
3
To increase the collaboration among teachers, students, and school leaders that naturally inspires new levels of a practical interdisciplinary approach.
4
To increase the real-world application of innovation-related subjects (e.g., science, math, technology, engineering, and design) as evidenced by participation in local, state, and national opportunities and events.
5
To increase measurable teacher effectiveness and student acquisition of subject area content and thinking skills.