League Application

As school systems leaders navigate the lasting effects of the pandemic, the need for bold, courageous, and innovative leadership has never been more pronounced. The pandemic exposed and exacerbated the existing racial, economic, and educational inequities present within school systems across the U.S. and underscored that digital transformation in teaching and learning must be embedded into the fabric of schools in order to see systems-level change. We need leaders who are committed to this type of innovative transformation and believe in the power of ideas-sharing, collaboration, and networking to see this change realized.

The Digital Promise League of Innovative Schools was launched at the White House under President Barack Obama within the U.S. Department of Education in 2011. As a national network focused on creating and advancing innovative teaching and learning systems and practices, the League of Innovative Schools is uniquely positioned to support and partner with school districts to address the most difficult challenges in education.

In the development of the Digital Promise Challenge Map, stakeholders working across all levels of public schools identified equity as a pressing, high priority challenge area. The League of Innovative Schools intentionally centers equity in our projects, procedures, and outputs to address this need head-on, taking action with renewed urgency due to the pandemic.

Whether it’s training the next generation of cybersecurity professionals, recruiting and retaining teachers of color, or gathering lessons from global social-emotional learning approaches, our leaders are at the forefront of designing, piloting, and scaling solutions that can impact the outcomes for all students, with a focus on historically and systemically excluded learners.

Working at the intersection of education leaders, researchers, and developers, the League offers a space for superintendents to learn from best practices, apply research and continuous improvement models, engage in R&D projects to tackle challenges with peers across the country, and implement new technologies and innovations.

Together, we can ensure that every student has equitable access and opportunities for powerful learning.

Application Criteria for the 2023-2024 Cohort

To best meet the needs of an increasingly diverse student population in the United States and to strengthen the composition and reach of the network, we will give preference and priority to district applications that meet at least one of the following criteria: (Please note that a district applicant need not meet all of these characteristics in order to be eligible to apply).

• The district’s free and reduced-price meals rate is 50 percent or greater
• The district’s student body is 50 percent or greater students of color
• The superintendent identifies with a demographic that is underrepresented in national superintendency statistics (ex., superintendent is a person of color, superintendent is a woman)
• The superintendent leads a district that is located in a geographic area currently underrepresented by the League of Innovative Schools—defined as a region within a state or a state with limited League representation; these include:
  • Delaware
  • Maryland
  • New Hampshire
  • Hawaii
  • Massachusetts
  • New Mexico
  • Idaho
  • Minnesota
  • North Dakota
  • Louisiana
  • Montana
  • Oklahoma
  • Maine
  • Nevada
  • Texas

Application Overview

We are now accepting applications for the 2023-24 League cohort through July 19, 2023, on an invitation-only basis.

The new member application process will follow the timeline detailed below:

Application & Interview Process

Application: Districts that are invited to apply by Digital Promise submit a written application with multimedia artifacts to validate and supplement their responses. Complete applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.

Interview: Finalists will participate in an interview with a Digital Promise staff person and member of the League Advisory Committee. Interviews are scheduled on a rolling basis upon review of written applications.

Superintendents are the core members of the League. However, superintendents may invite other members of their district team to participate in League activities. Membership in the League is for superintendents with at least one year of experience in the superintendent role and who demonstrate a proven track record and/or willingness to:

• Improve outcomes for students and solve the challenges facing K-12 schools through powerful and smart use of learning innovations and technologies
• Partner with researchers, entrepreneurs, and leading education thinkers to pilot new approaches to teaching and learning
• Use their voice to advance positive, lasting change in public education
• Commit to delivering educational equity for every student, everywhere

Candidates are selected based on the following factors:

• Vision and key achievements
• Potential for impacting student learning and educational leadership
• Openness to networking and knowledge sharing
• Demonstrated commitment to racial, digital, and educational equity

Successful candidates are committed to achieving equity in public school systems, have a demonstrated record of district and community impact, and deeply respect and value diversity of voices, perspectives, and experiences.

Please note: Select applicants are invited to attend the National Convening and Advocacy Day, hosted by the Center for Inclusive Innovation and the League of Innovative Schools from October 16-18, 2023, in Washington, D.C. This is an optional opportunity. Applicants will be responsible for their own travel expenses.

The Digital Promise League of Innovative Schools is a national network that connects and supports the most forward-thinking leaders in education. League members represent nearly 150 districts in 38 states serving more than 4 million students. Their diverse experiences reflect the advancements, challenges, and vital work of public education in the United States.

Digital Promise works at the intersection of education leaders, researchers, and entrepreneurs and developers to improve learning with the power of technology. By collaborating on shared priorities, the League spearheads innovative learning and leadership practices to achieve equitable outcomes for every student. To that end, the League aims to:

Design, validate, champion, and scale effective, innovative learning opportunities to advance equity and excellence for every student.

• Design: Create policies, programs, tools, and models
• Validate: Inform design and efficacy with research
• Champion: Advocate for policies, programs and models that transform systems
• Scale: Share and drive adoption models for replication
• Effective: Proven positive impact
• Innovative: New or improved solutions to challenges
• Advance Equity: Ensure historically underserved student populations participate, benefit, and thrive
• Advance Excellence: Support solutions that increase knowledge and skills for student success

Learn more about League district members.

The League of Innovative Schools supports leadership development and district efforts to advance teaching and learning through technology and innovation through:

• Advocacy: Strategic partnerships and support to spread ethos and influence policies
• Co-designed Solutions: Opportunities to tackle big challenges; co-design, prototype, and pilot new models, practices, and tools; and produce evidence-based solutions to benefit educators and students through Inclusive Innovation research, Innovation Study Tours, and more
• Cohorts: Learning communities focused on discussing challenges and sharing best practices and resources
• Communications: Amplification of efforts and accomplishments and subscription to Digital Promise newsletters containing relevant research, resources, and opportunities for district leaders
• Convenings: In-person meetings to build capacity, deepen relationships, share know-how and best practices, and learn from diverse school communities
• National Thought Leadership: Recognition as a forward-thinking leader in the education field
• Networking: Connection to a national network that incubates and celebrates effective innovation to support equity and excellence for all learners
• Professional Development: Opportunities and access to processes, resources, credentials, and events to expand knowledge and advance outcomes
• Research: Access to learning sciences research to support practical, scalable, equitable improvements in education, and ongoing, sustained relationships with Digital Promise researchers

League member superintendents commit to:

• Attend annual League meetings to collaboratively solve problems, build relationships with peers, and share and learn from district and school visits
• Join and actively participate in cohorts, working groups, and/or other League initiatives designed to address the challenges and changing needs of school districts
• Participate in a Digital Promise research and development project to co-design and implement innovative solutions within two years of membership
• Share and contribute to stories that showcase the League’s work and collective advocacy at the local and national level
• Collaborate with peers, researchers, and entrepreneurs to advance teaching and learning

To support new program opportunities and membership growth, League members pay dues on an annual basis according to their district size. Fees start at $2,000 and depend on student enrollment.

Additional questions? Email us at league@digitalpromise.org.