League of Innovative Students

Elevating Student Voice

Entrusting student leadership to guide innovation in equitable education

The Digital Promise League of Innovative Schools is excited to launch a new network that centers students’ voices in its work. Students are valuable leaders whose voices must be heard and amplified within and beyond the League. Students provide unique and essential perspectives on education topics such as equity and social justice that can guide valuable education research and solutions.

Application Process for the 2022-2023 Cohort

Announced at the League of Innovative Schools’ spring convening in Cincinnati, the call for applications for the 2022-2023 student cohort opened on March 9, 2022. During the inaugural year, we are inviting applications ONLY from existing school district members of the League of Innovative Schools.

We encourage students from the high school level to apply to be a member of the League of Innovative Students

The deadline to submit an application is 11:59 p.m. PT on November 11, 2022.

Please visit here for the complete list of League member school districts.

We will:

• Select a cohort of 30 high school students nominated by League of Innovative Schools member districts
• Launch a powerful network of students who share a passion for transforming education in their communities and
• represent the needs and demographics of the whole student body
• Engage a diverse cohort of students who are from historically and systematically excluded communities and/or represent perspectives across geographic, racial ethnic, and economic differences

About the League of Innovative Students

This new network of students is a multicultural, passionate group of young people brought together by Digital Promise and the League of Innovative Schools. They are passionate about transforming education in their communities, sharing their own experiences, and advocating for social justice and equity.

Students are changemakers. They are at the heart of everything in education.

Guided by a National Student Advisory Council—a newly formed group of six high school students representing the districts in the League of Innovative Schools’ Advisory Committee—selected students will participate in the following:

• Leadership – Students will receive training and development to grow their leadership capacity.
• Mentorship – Students will receive mentoring and coaching from school and Digital Promise leaders
• Advocacy – Students will develop the tools of advocacy including public-speaking and community organizing.
• Informing K-12 Education Research & Development (R&D) – Students will have opportunities to engage in research and design projects with potential to author publications.
• Peer Networking – Students will join a national network of young people leading the change.

Students will engage in two areas of focus. They will take an active leadership role in planning the Students for Equitable Education (SEE) Summit—a platform for students to address and educate adults on issues that are important to them—in 2023. Students will also be invited to participate in the League of Innovative Schools’ biannual convenings, Digital Promise meetings, and other major educational conferences including ASU+GSV Summit and the School Superintendents Association (AASA)’s national conference.

In addition, aligned with Digital Promise’s inclusive innovation model, students will have opportunities to contribute their perspectives in the development of education solutions and products because we believe it is essential to hear from and co-design with groups who are most impacted by research.

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