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Focus Area:
Innovation and the Future of Learning

At CRPE, we study how public education can evolve to meet the challenges and opportunities of a rapidly changing world. Our research on innovation and the future of learning examines how schools are rethinking teaching and learning models—from personalized and competency-based approaches to the use of technology and AI—to better prepare students for life beyond school. We investigate how these innovations take shape in real contexts, what barriers and enablers schools encounter, and how systems can support sustainable change. Across this work, we aim to understand how schools and communities can design learning environments that are more equitable, adaptable, and responsive to the diverse needs of students.

  • The Lens    

From a Lakota-focused microschool to service opportunities for kids with disabilities, innovations from 161 schools to aid marginalized students

Chelsea Waite

This year’s Canopy data suggest schools are innovating is to design solutions to the problems most often faced by marginalized students and families.

  • Research Reports    

Pods in Action: African Leadership Group

Juli Kim, Paola Gilliam, Sharon Kebschull Barrett

The African Leadership Group created a learning pod that in most cases not only helped students keep up but actually improved their academic performance over the 2020–21 school year.

  • Research Reports    

Pods in Action: Community Works

Heather Gomez-Bendaña, Elizabeth Steiner

When school buildings closed in March 2020, Community Works started offering more versatile programming options to meet the needs of their students.

  • Research Reports    

Pods in Action: Southern Nevada Urban Micro Academy

Paola Gilliam, Sharon Kebschull Barrett

The City of North Las Vegas funded education nonprofit Nevada Action to set up a microschool.

  • Research Reports    

The Promise and Challenges of Pandemic Innovation in High Schools

Betheny Gross, Sarah McCann

This report summarizes what we observed from a survey of New England high schools as they navigated the uncertainty of the pandemic.

  • Research Reports    

Crisis Breeds Innovation: Pandemic Pods and the Future of Education

Ashley Jochim, Jennifer Poon

This report offers the first in-depth look at families’ and educators’ experiences with pandemic pods.

  • Research Reports    

“Creativity requires freedom”: What will it take to create space within our education system to think and design creatively?

Sunanna Chand, Betheny Gross

How do we help schools prevent “back to normal” inertia and fuel change?

  • Research Reports    

Pods in Action: Cleveland Metropolitan School District

Paola Gilliam, Sharon Kebschull Barrett

Cleveland came into the pandemic with a history of collaboration among civic organizations and schools.

  • Research Reports    

Pods in Action: Hyde Park Neighborhood Club

Rebecca Lawrence

During the pandemic, HPNC staff supervised students’ online learning and provided social experiences that were designed to mimic those that students would experience in school in a normal year.

  • Research Reports    

Pods in Action: My Reflection Matters

Melissa Steel King, Heather Casimere

Initially an in-person, local organization, My Reflection Matters launched its virtual “Village” platform in August 2020 to connect and support primarily Black, Indigenous, and People of Color families.

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