League of Innovative Schools Spring 2027 Convening

Meet Us in Michigan

League superintendents and up to two representatives from their school systems are invited to join us in Ypsilanti, Michigan, March 8-10, 2027, for this exclusive member experience.

Hosted by League member Ypsilanti Community Schools, this convening offers a rare opportunity to learn from innovative practices across the Detroit metropolitan area and to connect with peers who understand your challenges, ambitions, and the complexities of leading systems-level change.

Save the Dates

Experience Innovation Where It Happens

League of Innovative Schools Spring Convenings bring system leaders together to step inside one another’s schools, see innovation in action, and learn directly from the educators, students, and leaders doing the work.

• Learn Inside Real School Systems: Step into classrooms and learning environments across Ypsilanti to see innovation in action and interact directly with the learners, educators, and leaders bringing it to life.
• Learn from Leaders Who Understand the Work: Engage in collaborative sessions grounded in key priorities, questions, and emerging challenges with fellow League members, host system leaders, Digital Promise staff, and partners.
• Learn through Meaningful Connections: Experience the power of League relationships through intentionally designed connection opportunities that create space for meaningful conversations, new partnerships, and relationships.

Learn More About League Convenings

Host District and School Visits

Ypsilanti Community Schools (YCS) is a diverse, dynamic district serving more than 4,000 scholars across 12 schools in Ypsilanti, Michigan. Located between Detroit and Ann Arbor and near Eastern Michigan University, YCS leverages partnerships with higher education, industry, and community organizations to expand opportunities for scholars.

Grounded in equity, belonging, and access, YCS empowers scholars to explore their interests, develop future-ready competencies, and connect classroom learning to authentic experiences. Across our schools, Visible Learning provides a common instructional foundation, making learning intentions, success criteria, feedback, and scholar ownership visible across diverse pathways and experiences.

What makes YCS unique:

• Home of the historic Perry Preschool Project and HighScope legacy
• Michigan’s only consolidated district still in operation
• World’s first HP AI Spotlight School
• Richly diverse, multilingual scholar community
• 1:1 devices and Verizon Innovative Learning Schools district
• 13+ Career & Technical Education pathways
• Makerspaces and Innovation Labs in every building
• Outdoor learning spaces, including prairies, greenhouses, and courtyard gardens
• K–12 International Baccalaureate continuum
• Dual Language Spanish Immersion Multilingual School
• Online School with live instruction
• Leader in Me School
• STEM Middle College
• Magnet schools and programs
• Experiential learning

We invite educators and leaders to experience YCS, a district redefining what’s possible for scholars.

Explore the Site Visit Pathways

Ypsilanti Community Schools is honored to welcome League of Innovative Schools leaders to our community. We believe innovation grows through collaboration—when educators share ideas, challenge thinking, and learn alongside one another. We are excited to open our classrooms, share our interconnected ecosystem of innovation, and learn from our colleagues across the country. We hope attendees leave inspired by what they experience in Ypsilanti and with new ideas and connections that strengthen opportunities for scholars everywhere.

Dr. Alena Zachery-Ross, Superintendent of Schools

 

District Pride Points

• YCS is home to the world’s first HP AI Spotlight School, positioning scholars and educators at the forefront of responsible AI exploration, teaching, and career-connected learning.
• YCS offers a full International Baccalaureate continuum, creating a vertically aligned pathway for inquiry, global learning, and rigorous college and career preparation across grade levels.
• More than 13 Career and Technical Education pathways give scholars opportunities to explore high-demand careers through hands-on learning, industry experiences, and career-connected coursework leading to industry-recognized microcredentials.
• Innovation is embedded across the district, with Makerspaces and Innovation Labs in every building and outdoor learning environments that include prairies, gardens, and greenhouse spaces.
• YCS leverages powerful university and industry partnerships, including Eastern Michigan University, Toyota, and other regional partners, to connect classroom learning with authentic experiences and future opportunities.
• YCS serves a richly diverse, multilingual scholar community, with Dual Language Immersion, multilingual and newcomer programming, and multiple learning pathways designed to expand access and opportunity.
• Ypsilanti is home to the historic Perry Preschool Project, whose groundbreaking research helped launch the globally recognized HighScope Curriculum and continues YCS’ legacy of educational innovation.

Hotel and Travel

Hotel Information

The hotel for the League Spring 2027 Convening is the Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center, located at 400 Renaissance Drive W, Detroit, Michigan.

Use the link below to make a reservation in the League’s discounted room block. The room block reservation deadline is Feb. 1, 2027, or when all the pre-allocated rooms have been reserved.

Reserve Your Hotel Room

Travel Considerations

Airport: The nearest airport is Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW), which is approximately 30 minutes from the hotel, depending on traffic.

Hotel Parking: Guests may park in Beaubien Garage, which offers in-and-out privileges to hotel guests for a flat rate of $25 per day and can be charged to guestrooms. Valet parking is also available for $30 daily/$40 overnight.

Recommended Arrival/Departure: We recommend that you arrive the morning of Monday, March 8, and depart on the morning of Thursday, March 11, 2027. Programming on Wednesday, March 10, will conclude with an evening reception at the Henry Ford Museum.

Your Next Steps

Register to Attend
Register to attend the League of Innovative Schools Spring 2027 Convening. You will also select your school visit track preferences when you register. Learn more about the school visit tracks.

Book Your Hotel Room
Book your room at the Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center. The nightly rate for a single or double is $269 plus tax. The room block will close on Feb. 1, 2027, or when all the pre-allocated rooms have been reserved.

Get Ready with the “Know Before You Go” Webinar
Make plans to tune into our “Know Before You Go” webinar ahead of the convening to learn everything you need to know for your time in Ypsilanti. We will share the date and time for this webinar ASAP.

Follow Us on Social Media for More Updates
Follow the League on LinkedIn and use #DPLIS to join in the excitement leading up to the convening and to share key learnings and updates when you’re there.

See You in Person!
We look forward to seeing you in person from March 8-10, 2027, in Ypsilanti, for an unforgettable convening!

Become a Convening Sponsor!

League convening sponsors engage with school system leaders as learning partners. Through school visits, interactive program sessions, and opportunities to connect, partners contribute to conversations about the challenges and opportunities shaping systems-level change.

Sponsorship offers a unique opportunity to better understand how innovative school systems think, learn alongside district decision-makers, and build meaningful relationships within a trusted national network.

Interested in partnering with us? Email Rebecca Banks to learn more.

Not yet a League member?

League convenings are one of the ways members connect with peers, learn from innovative systems, and take ideas back to their own communities. Explore the League of Innovative Schools to learn more about membership.