Relay Graduate School of Education (Relay) is an accredited education institution headquartered in New York City, United States, that focuses on training teachers and school leaders in urban communities. Founded in 2011, it has become a major player in the education reform movement, leveraging its deep relationships with a range of public and charter schools to provide graduate-level programs that emphasize practical instruction over theory. Relay’s primary goal is to help educators prepare for the realities of the urban classroom by providing a rigorous instructional program designed to equip them with the skills necessary to effectively teach and lead. Relay offers several programs including a Master of Education (MEd), Advanced Certificate in Special Education, a Principal Fellowship, and a Teaching Residency Program. The MEd is a two-year program that incorporates intensive in-person instruction, online coursework, and classroom-based coaching. As of 2021, Relay has campuses or affiliates in ten cities across the United States and has graduated over 5,000 students. Relay has been praised by some, who believe that its hands-on approach to teacher and school leadership development is an effective model for improving educational outcomes. However, critics argue that Relay’s programs are too focused on standardized testing and fail to impart the more nuanced skills necessary to succeed as a teacher or educational leader.