Year-In-Review: GoldStars Club — Highlights, Lessons, and What’s Coming in 2026

2025 was a year of experimenting, learning, and growing. GoldStars Club supported dozens of pilots, ran workshops, and convened thousands of teachers. This year-in-review pulls together what we learned and previews plans for 2026, including new tools, grants, and community events.

Highlights from 2025

• Launched an initial pilot program with 48 classrooms testing hybrid recognition systems.
• Published three research briefs summarizing attendance, badge-based portfolios, and equity practices.
• Built a community of 15,000 educators with monthly webinars and active regional cohorts.
• Awarded 10 micro-grants to teachers piloting SEL-centered recognition systems.

Top Lessons

Across pilots, five themes stood out:

1. Clarity matters: Clear criteria make recognition meaningful.
2. Data drives fairness: Disaggregated data helps identify unequal access to rewards.
3. Inclusion requires choice: Give students ways to opt out of public recognition.
4. Family partnerships scale impact: Brief, positive family communication matters.
5. Design for sustainment: Simple, low-friction systems last longer.

What We’re Building for 2026

We’re excited to announce several initiatives:

• Micro-grants: 25 awards of up to $1,000 to scale and test promising practices (apply Jan–Feb).
• Open badge taxonomy: A community-curated library of evidence-aligned badges for K–8.
• Teacher toolkit: Ready-made rubrics, templates for family communication, and low-tech tracking sheets.
• Regional hubs: Pilot regional meetups and coaching cohorts to support sustained practice.

How to Get Involved

Join our webinars, apply for micro-grants, or contribute to the open badge taxonomy. We’re especially eager to partner with educators who center equity and student voice in design.

Community Voices

“The community made it practical to try new ideas without feeling isolated.” — Ms. Perez, 3rd grade teacher

Metrics and Impact

We’ll publish a formal impact brief in Q2 2026, aggregating pilot outcomes and lessons. Early indicators show promising gains in attendance and student reflection practices where recognition was paired with clear rubrics and family communication.

Final Reflection

Recognition is a tool. Its effect depends on design, context, and the supports around it. We are committed to helping communities use recognition to foster learning, belonging, and growth. Thank you to every teacher, family, and student who shared feedback. We’re just getting started.

Stay Connected

Sign up for our newsletter at goldstars.club/newsletter to receive updates on grants, toolkits, and webinars. We’ll also host an online convening for grantees and community members in April 2026.