March 17, 2025 – Thirteen school districts in the Pittsburgh area will host the League of Innovative Schools Spring 2025 Convening. The League of Innovative Schools is a national network of forward-thinking school districts organized by Digital Promise, a global nonprofit working at the intersection of research, technology, and practice to accelerate innovation in education and shape the future of learning.
The convening, which runs from March 24-27, 2025, is anticipated to convene more than 350 superintendents, district leaders, corporate partners, researchers, and thought partners from across the country in Pittsburgh, and in neighborhoods across the area, including Leetsdale, McDonald, Blairsville, Coal Center, and more. The meeting, which is the 22nd convening of the League of Innovative Schools, will feature two full days of classroom visits to all 13 host districts, as well as collaborative problem solving and relationship building with peers and partners—all with the aim of sparking connections and new ideas that teams can bring back to their own districts.
The host districts for the Spring 2025 Convening include:
“The 13 school districts across Western Pennsylvania offer a powerful example of how deep regional collaboration can help accelerate innovative practices both locally and nationally,” said Jillian Doggett, director of network supports at Digital Promise. “These districts are leading the way with forward-thinking initiatives, including strong industry partnerships, student-directed learning, STEAM academies, and more, offering models that can be replicated nationwide. We are thrilled to help shine a national spotlight on this innovative region through the League convening.”
Established in 2011, the League comprises nearly 150 school districts across 34 states and has served more than four million students nationwide since its founding. These districts represent a range of contexts in American education—from large urban settings to remote rural schools. The full list of members can be found at digitalpromise.org/districts.
“We can’t wait to welcome education leaders to Mister Rogers’ real-life neighborhood of Western Pennsylvania,” said Gregg Behr, executive director of The Grable Foundation. “Inspired by our favorite neighbor, our region’s connected, collaborative neighborhood of learning is home to the largest cluster of nationally celebrated school districts in the country. In partnership with Digital Promise and the League of Innovative Schools, we’re excited to enhance—and expand—that neighborhood for learners nationwide.”
On March 25 and 27, all 13 host districts will host school site visits across the region, allowing convening attendees to see firsthand each district’s unique educational approaches in action.
Some practices that attendees will experience at schools during these visits include:
Elsewhere in Pennsylvania at Butler Area School District, North Allegheny School District, and Quakertown Community School District, Digital Promise’s first-ever regional cohort for Computational Thinking (CT) Pathways is also underway. This collaborative effort prepares students for a world where data science, generative AI, and other emerging tech are reshaping society by tracking CT’s integration across grade levels.
For more information on the Digital Promise League of Innovative Schools, visit digitalpromise.org/league.
Press Contacts:
Digital Promise
Emma Mills
262.893.3047
emills@digitalpromise.org
The Grable Foundation
Ryan Rydzewski
225.317.8945
ryan@grable.org
About Digital Promise
Digital Promise is a global nonprofit working to expand opportunity for every learner. We work with educators, researchers, technology leaders, and communities to design, investigate, and scale innovations that support learners, especially those who’ve been historically and systematically excluded. Our vision is that every person engages in powerful learning experiences that lead to a life of well-being, fulfillment, and economic mobility. For more information, visit the Digital Promise website and follow Digital Promise for updates.
About The Grable Foundation
The Grable Foundation is guided by its mission to help children and youth become independent, caring, contributing members of society. With a focus in Southwestern Pennsylvania, the Foundation provides support to charitable organizations that improve the lives of children from early childhood through the formative years, inside the classroom and out—always motivated by possibilities that a child will experience something new that will change his or her life; that educators will have the resources to nurture students; and that kids will play and learn and grow in their own way, guided by an engaged community.
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