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Our History

Digital Promise began as an idea about using breakthrough technology for public interest in education. Today, we’re a global nonprofit working alongside educators, researchers, and edtech developers to design, develop, prove, and scale what’s possible in real communities, with real educators, with every learner.

  • 165 Districts in the League of Innovative Schools, our flagship network
  • 693 Verizon Innovative Learning Schools across 126 districts nationwide
  • 600+ Free or low-cost micro-credentials
  • 4.4 million K-12 learners reached through Digital Promise projects and partnerships
  • 505,000 Teachers in districts with conditions that support Powerful Learning
  • 80+ Countries reached through our global networks and programs, spanning Sub-Saharan Africa, East Asia, Latin America, Europe, and beyond

Bipartisan By Origin, Nonpartisan By Design

Digital Promise was founded on the belief that improving education is bigger than any single moment, administration, or agenda. Congress authorized Digital Promise in 2008, and President George W. Bush signed it into law. President Barack Obama formally launched it at the White House in 2011.

Startup support came from the U.S. Department of Education, Carnegie Corporation of New York, the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. That cross-party foundation still anchors our work today.

Meet Our Partners and Funders

Our History

2026

A Refreshed Brand, New Website, and Powerful Learning

In 2026, Digital Promise formally introduced an updated framework for Powerful Learning, reaffirming a vision for teaching and learning centered on connection, agency, purpose, curiosity that has anchored our organization’s work from the start.

Building on years of classroom-tested practice and partnership, this framework aligns with a pivotal milestone: 15 years after our White House launch, Digital Promise debuted a refreshed brand and new website, built to make our research, practical resources, and real-world impact easier than ever for educators to discover and apply.

2024

2024-2025: Building Systems for the Future of Learning

Digital Promise accelerated our efforts to translate emerging technology and regional innovation into sustainable, nationwide impact. 

Under the leadership of new Board Chair Rick Stephens, we strengthened our governance while establishing national leadership bodies—such as the School Systems Advisory Committee launched in partnership with ALI—to bridge the gap between educational research and district practice. 

To address the rapid rise of generative AI tools, Digital Promise launched our EdTech and Emerging Technologies initiative and released a comprehensive AI Literacy Framework to support safe, responsible, and effective school and district adoption. Simultaneously, we expanded workforce and STEM readiness by launching open-source badging technology and establishing the Center for Learner Pathway Innovations to broaden access to durable skills and credentials.

2022

2022-2023: Anchoring Purpose, Defining Strategic Pathways

Digital Promise launched its strategic framework centered on clear Impact Goals designed  to expand opportunity and improve outcomes for learners who need it most. To ground this vision in action, we published two foundational white papers on digital equity and digital transformation, offering school systems actionable roadmaps to bridge the digital divide and embrace systemic, tech-enabled innovation.

Delivering on the Promise of Digital Equity 

Breaking With the Past: Embracing Digital Transformation in Education

2020

2020-2021: Meeting the Moment, Marking the Decade

When COVID-19 hit, we gave districts resources and free webinars to support digital learning. We launched the Center for Inclusive Innovation.

In 2021 we celebrated our 10th anniversary, named Jean-Claude Brizard President and CEO, and became a co-lead of the National Science Foundation’s AI Institute for Engaged Learning.

2019

One Organization, One Commitment to Elevating Every Learner

Digital Promise and Digital Promise Global merged into a single organization.

We also published Designing a Process for Inclusive Innovation, which defines what equity-first education R&D looks like.

Designing a Process for Inclusive Innovation

2017

2017-2018: Deepening Our Research

Digital Promise launched its learning science research team and received its first federal award, an Education Innovation and Research grant for United2Read early literacy research.

Our work in computational thinking began.

We also co-designed early learning curricula and apps with educators and families.

2015

2015-2016: Going Global and Putting Research to Work

Digital Promise Global launched, and Learning Studios expanded our reach to 11 countries. 

The Learner Variability Project and the Educator Micro-credentials platform both launched.

Edtech pilots in districts began building the evidence base schools need to make smart purchasing decisions.

Global Education

Learner Variability Project

Micro-credentials

Evidence-Based EdTech

2013

2013 – 2014: New Ways to Grow and Recognize Learning

Digital Promise introduced micro-credentials to recognize educators’ professional growth. 

It also launched Verizon Innovative Learning Schools, which began with 9 schools in 3 districts, and Research@Work, which connects research findings with practitioners and developers.

Credentialing

Verizon Innovative Learning Schools

Research and Development

2011

Launched at the White House

Digital Promise launched under President Barack Obama, and U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan appointed the inaugural Board of Directors. 

That same year, 24 district leaders formed the League of Innovative Schools. The League is now a network of 165 superintendents.

League of Innovative Schools

Our Team

2008

Authorized By Congress

Congress authorized Digital Promise as the National Center for Research in Advanced Information and Digital Technologies through the Higher Education Opportunity Act. President George W. Bush signed it into law.

Read the legislation

2001

2001-2003: From Vision to Proposal

Grossman and Minow published A Digital Gift to the Nation, drawing on six years of research into technology for teaching and learning. 

In 2003, a proposal for the Digital Opportunity Investment Trust, a forerunner to Digital Promise, went to Congress.

A Digital Gift to the Nation

PBS’ “The Open Mind”

1999

The Idea Takes Shape

Lawrence K. Grossman, former president of NBC News and PBS, and Newton N. Minnow, former chairman of the FCC and PBS, set out to convene schools, universities, libraries, museums, and public broadcasters. Their question: How breakthrough technologies could serve the public interest in education.

Read Grossman’s reflection on the journey

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