The pandemic has continued to challenge school systems across the nation in providing academic learning while addressing the social-emotional well-being and health of students. It has also exposed racial, economic, and educational inequities, underscoring the necessity for systemic change and bold, courageous leadership.
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 advocating for universal broadband, building capacity for data equity, or developing tools to improve secondary writing, our leaders are at the forefront of designing, piloting, and scaling solutions that can impact the outcomes for all students, with a focus on traditionally marginalized and underserved students.
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. We invite you to join us!
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 are prioritizing district applications that meet at least one of the following criteria:
Call for applications for the 2022-2023 cohort of the League of Innovative Schools opens on February 14, 2022. We are accepting applications until 11:59 p.m. PT on May 20, 2022.
The new member application process will follow the timeline detailed below:
Applicants submit a written application with multimedia artifacts to validate and supplement their responses.
To preview or download a copy of the application for planning purposes, click here.
Call for applications opens
Feb. 14, 2022
Application submissions due by 11:59 p.m. PT
May 20, 2022
Finalists and applicants are notified of status
June 27, 2022
Call for applications opens
Feb. 14, 2022
Application submissions due by 11:59 p.m. PT
May 20, 2022
Finalists and applicants are notified of status
June 27, 2022
Finalists will participate in an interview with a Digital Promise staff person and member of the League Advisory Board. In addition, Digital Promise staff may request and conduct additional interviews with district staff members.
Finalist interviews must be completed by 11:59 p.m. PT
July 22, 2022
New members and applicants are notified of status
Week of Aug. 8, 2022
New member orientation call
Sept. TBD
Fall 2022 League of Innovative Schools Convening
Oct. 19-21, 2022
Finalist interviews must be completed by 11:59 p.m. PT
July 22, 2022
New members and applicants are notified of status
Week of Aug. 8, 2022
New member orientation call
Sept. TBD
Fall 2022 League of Innovative Schools Convening
Oct. 19-21, 2022
We will be hosting two virtual information sessions to share more about League membership and to answer questions the application process. Please register for the sessions using the links below:
Wednesday, March 23, 12-1 p.m. ET – Register here
Wednesday, April 27, 3–4 p.m. ET – Register here
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 who demonstrate a proven track record and/or willingness to:
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: Attendance at the Fall Convening is required for new membership. At this time, we are planning for an in-person convening on Oct. 19-21, 2022, in Los Angeles, CA. If you are unable to attend this meeting, please defer your application until next year.
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 125 districts in 34 states serving more than 3 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:
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:
League member superintendents commit to:
To support new program opportunities and membership growth, League members pay dues on an annual basis according to their district size. Fees range from $1,500 to $5,000 depending on student enrollment.
Additional questions? Email us at league@digitalpromise.org.