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New Episode of the Innovation Spotlight Podcast
A Focus on Racial Equity in Education Policymaking
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| Nine months ago, the murder of George Floyd galvanized the world, already in the throes of the COVID-19 pandemic, to reckon with our nation’s legacy of racial injustice. After the numerous statements, protests, and court hearings faded, several states began inquiries into how racism impacts public systems, including K-12 education. Two states—Minnesota and Kentucky—are working on racial equity in public systems to remedy gaps in opportunity and access. Other states have taken noticeable K-12 education measures, too, such as new efforts to diversify the educator workforce, and to improve cultural pedagogy and competency.
We think we are seeing a trend in education policy proposals, illuminating the power of these tragic moments to capture the moral imagination of our country and jolt it into action. In this episode, Aurora Institute Policy Director Fred Jones talked with Dr. Felicia Cumings Smith, Senior Director, US Regions at National Geographic, and Danyika Leonard, Policy Director of Education Evolving, to unpack the opportunity for more states to examine racial equity in education policy. |
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Center for Policy and Advocacy February 2021 Updates
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| The Aurora Institute Center for Policy has compiled a resource on the latest developments in federal and state education policy. The February 2021 update includes a look at the federal government’s actions around assessing student learning this school year, CDC reopening guidance, the nomination of Dr. Miguel Cardona as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education, and the E-Rate program. At the state level, Indiana and Kentucky are considering changes to their accountability systems. Michigan’s state superintendent wants to extend the school year, and Minnesota’s governor wants all qualifying seniors to be automatically admitted to the state universities. The Center for Policy is also watching 12 bills related to personalized, competency-based education and our policy priorities. |
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Aurora frequently hosts webinars and convenings with the field’s leading experts to explore trends, tackle pressing problems of practice and policy, and share emerging knowledge from research. The following opportunities to learn and network are open for registration.
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Exploring Innovative School Models in the Canopy Project’s Interactive National Database
March 10, 2021 | 3 PM ET
Newly released data from the Canopy project provide an overview of how 150+ schools are innovating during the COVID-19 era. In this webinar, we will describe the Canopy Project’s crowdsourced approach to building collective knowledge on a more diverse set of innovative schools across the country. In addition, we’ll share trends in how the most innovative schools are redesigning their models to advance personalization, nurture relationships, build an anti-racist society, and ensure well-being for every student. Join us to discuss emerging trends in school model innovation and what kinds of analyses the Canopy project should prioritize moving forward. |
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Presenters:
- Chelsea Waite, Education Research Fellow, Christensen Institute
- David Nitkin, Partner, Transcend
- Mebane Rash, CEO and Editor-in-Chief, EducationNC
- Dr. Angie Mullennix, Director of K-12 Academics and Innovation Strategy, North Carolina Department of Public Instruction
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Presenters:
- Tonya Howell, CBE Social Emotional Integration Specialist, Chicago Public Schools
- Fred Jones, Policy Director, Aurora Institute
- Eliot Levine, Research Director, Aurora Institute
- Susan Patrick, President and CEO, Aurora Institute
- Damarr Smith, Project Manager of CBE, Chicago Public Schools
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A Strategic Reflection on the Field of Competency-Based Education
March 23, 2021 | 3 PM ET
Schools and districts across the United States are realizing the promise of competency-based education—transforming the culture, structure, and pedagogy of the traditional time-based system into one that is designed to help every student succeed. Attend this webinar to hear reflections on the current state of competency-based education. Gain an understanding of developments happening across the field. The presenters will explore areas of growth for the field, identify emerging issues, and provide insights to inform the future direction of competency-based education. We will also invite your reflections on the field. |
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Aurora Institute Congratulates Christopher Rush as Next Director of Educational Technology
At a time when technological innovation is uniquely positioned to shape the context for next-generation learning, we are filled with delight and optimism over the appointment of Chris Rush as the Director of Educational Technology in the U.S. Department of Education Office of the Secretary. |
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Innovation Is Everywhere
As program officers at three national education foundations, we know that educators everywhere are making big changes in teaching and learning. But the education community—funders like us, along with state and federal decision-makers, district and school leaders, researchers, and advocates—has not had a ready source of detailed information about innovators outside established networks or major urban centers. As a result, only a few schools gain widespread attention, and models that are relevant to educators working in a variety of contexts remain under the radar.
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Join the Leading Change PLC
The Leading Change PLC is a free, virtual educator-driven group facilitated through the KnowledgeWorks Personalized Learning Community, an online community that connects personalized learning practitioners from multiple states. The Leading Change PLC will help members:
- Connect and learn with other classroom, school, and district leaders at various stages and levels of transformation to personalized, competency-based learning
- Celebrate educators who are seizing every opportunity to accelerate change and innovate for sustainable equitable practices
- Develop a support system to lean on in your work to build belief in the vision and sustainable systems and structures
- Get peer feedback, insights, and ideas to help with specific challenges and strategies to advance change
- Share resources and examples with your peers across the country
- Reflect on what it takes to lead transformation and consider personal growth goals
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| Our Center for Policy leads the multi-stage evolution of policy necessary for the growth of effective student-centered learning models toward the goals of high-quality learning and equity. Our policy priorities are designed to ensure the nation’s education system is fit for purpose and help move states forward from their current state of education to future systems. |
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CompetencyWorks
CompetencyWorks is an online resource dedicated to K-12 competency-based education. Drawing on lessons learned by innovators, we share knowledge through a practice-focused blog, research reports on emerging issues, policy advocacy, and resources curated from across the field. |
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| The Aurora Institute hosts a resource library containing more than 200 materials. Working collaboratively with diverse experts in the field, the Aurora Institute produces reports, books, policy briefs, blog posts, webinars, and related resources on key topics and tough issues that equip and empower educators and leaders to catalyze and scale personalized, next-generation learning models. |
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Aurora Institute
The mission of Aurora Institute is to drive the transformation of education systems and accelerate the advancement of breakthrough policies and practices to ensure high-quality learning for all.
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