Aurora Institute
Issues

Explore Our Focus Areas

The Aurora Institute is devoted to innovating K-12 education to better prepare learners for the future, to systematically reshape the institution to better serve all students, and to safeguard public education as a pillar of democratic ideals. We work on multiple fronts to leverage change, including creating opportunities in federal and state policy, examining outdated structures, researching student-centered pedagogy, and catalyzing innovations in educator preparation and practice.

Federal Policy

Our work at the federal level is guided by an equity-driven and future-focused set of priorities designed to ensure the nation’s education system is fit for purpose.

 

HARNESS OPPORTUNITIES IN ESSA

MODERNIZE HEA

INCREASE ACCESS TO BROADBAND

LEVERAGE CAREER & TECHNICAL EDUCATION

DESIGN FOR EDUCATIONAL EQUITY

CREATE SPACE TO PILOT SYSTEMS OF ASSESSMENTS

State Policy

Our state policy priorities encourage lawmakers to use their agenda-setting, resource-driving, and convening powers to set a long-range vision for state education systems.

 

REDEFINE STUDENT SUCCESS

CREATE MEANINGFUL QUALIFICATIONS

REDESIGN ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEMS FOR CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT

BUILD BALANCED SYSTEMS OF ASSESSMENTS

DEVELOP EDUCATOR CAPACITY

MODERNIZE & DIVERSIFY THE EDUCATOR-LEADER WORKFORCE

CREATE PILOTS & INNOVATION ZONES

BASE LEARNING ON MASTERY, NOT SEAT TIME

FUND INNOVATION

CREATE ENABLING CONDITIONS FOR COMPETENCY-BASED EDUCATION

Issues in Practice

Our work toward re-imagining educational practice covers diverse issues from examining the structure and culture of school design to quality frameworks to learner-centered pedagogy building strong relationships and interactions between educators and learners.

 

HOW TO GET STARTED

LEAD CHANGE AND INNOVATION

COMMIT TO EQUITY

EVALUATE QUALITY

SUPPORT PROFESSIONAL LEARNING

RETHINK INSTRUCTION

CREATE BALANCED SYSTEMS OF ASSESSMENTS

LEARN LESSONS FROM THE FIELD

ACTIVATE STUDENT AGENCY

ENGAGE COMMUNITY