Day 1 Academies Fund

The Bezos Day 1 Academies Fund is a non-profit organization building and operating a network of tuition-free, Montessori-inspired preschools in under-resourced communities. Directly operating the preschools creates an opportunity to learn, invent, and improve.

We use the same set of principles that have driven Amazon. Most important among those is a genuine, intense customer obsession. The child is the customer. “Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.” And lighting that fire early is a giant leg up for any child.

Our goal is to enable every child to become a creative leader, original thinker, and lifelong learner by increasing access to early childhood education. Bezos Academy preschools offer tuition-free, year-round programming, five days a week, for children 3-5 years old. Admissions prioritizes low-income families.

In selecting communities for our preschools, we consider a wide range of data, including income levels, participation in free and reduced-cost meal programs, and gaps in access to licensed childcare providers. We also look for local organizations and businesses that understand the needs of their community members and are excited about the prospect of hosting a tuition-free preschool in their neighborhood.

Families, communities, hosts, and school staff are essential partners in igniting love of learning in every child. Thank you.

To learn more about Bezos Academy’s approach and locations, please visit our website.