Joan Ganz Cooney Center Opens Applications for Bold New Literacy Innovation Program

(New York, NY, July 21, 2025) — The Joan Ganz Cooney Center at Sesame Workshop invites tech and media companies focused on children’s literacy learning to apply to join our Sandbox for Literacy Innovations. Supported by the Walton Family Foundation, the Sandbox supports the development of cutting-edge educational technology and media, grounded in rigorous research and children’s lived experiences to promote literacy among children.

The Sandbox for Literacy Innovations, launched as part of the Cooney Center’s mission to advance children’s learning, is already showing promising results with its inaugural group of product partners, including LeapFrog, Sago Mini, and LitLab. Participating organizations receive actionable, research-based guidance through consultation with the Cooney Center’s literacy experts, engage directly with children in co-design sessions, and contribute to research that has the potential to shape the future of educational media. In return, they share insights into product development that inform the Cooney Center’s broader research into how evidence and children’s voices can shape more effective literacy tools. 

“We’re beginning to see the real promise of this collaborative model—where research, product development, and children’s perspectives converge to create more meaningful learning experiences,” said Michael Preston, Executive Director, Joan Ganz Cooney Center. “Now, we’re excited to expand our reach and support more companies committed to improving children’s literacy through thoughtful, innovative design.”

“The Sandbox for Literacy Innovations program allowed our team to uplevel our design and co-design practices, as well as improve the rigor and research basis of our product,” said Varun Gulati, CEO and co-founder of LitLab. “Products with a strong research basis are only effective insofar as they also meet the needs of the learners themselves (students), and one of the best things about this program is that it paired co-design and research together, and allowed us to truly accelerate the development of our product.”

The Sandbox is open to organizations that are:

  • Developing interactive technology or media supporting English literacy development
  • Targeting children or youth (ages 3-17), for use in school or at home
  • Focused on the United States market

Thanks to generous underwriting from the Walton Family Foundation, there is no financial cost for partner organizations to participate in these research and co-design activities.

Sandbox partners will be selected through a competitive review process led by the Cooney Center team. Partners must be willing and able to commit to a six-month engagement, including regular virtual meetings and in-person co-design sessions in New York City, followed by periodic reporting and engagement for two additional years. 

The deadline to apply is August 29, 2025.

Learn more at cooneycenter.org/sandbox-literacy.

For questions or more information, contact cooney.center@sesame.org.

©2025 The Joan Ganz Cooney Center