Models of Excellence was borne from a 25-year collaboration between Ron Berger of EL and Steve Seidel of the Harvard Graduate School of Education and was originally known as The Center for Student Work. They and their colleagues have spent decades using student work in graduate education courses and in professional development for educators. They built the site as a growing, curated collection of exemplary student work and an open resource for educators and students. Models of Excellence is supported by EL, a non-profit organization, and HGSE; it was built with investment from The Hewlett Foundation, The Nellie Mae Foundation, The Barr Foundation, and a U.S. Department of Education Arts Integration grant.