InnovateEDU

24/08/2026

The federal landscape of special education and civil rights enforcement is experiencing an unprecedented structural shift. Educating All Learners Alliance (EALA) believes that policy changes are best understood through the lived experiences and expertise of the individuals navigating them on the ground.

In the next installment of EALA's Voices from the Field series, Kemouy Bhalai, Education Administrator talks about how moving special education and civil rights oversight out of the U.S. Department of Education affects the daily realities of students with learning differences.
https://lnkd.in/g4xZUrrk

24/08/2026

Real systems change starts with a strong, connected team culture. The InnovateEDU team will be offline for our annual staff retreat August 24–26!

As a nationwide team, these in-person moments are essential. We’re gathering our staff under one roof to connect, collaborate across our projects, and align our strategies for the year ahead.

We believe that driving deep, systemic change in education requires not just hard work and strong infrastructure, but also shared purpose, human connection, and joy.

We look forward to returning on Thursday, August 27 with fresh perspectives, renewed energy, and a collective commitment to creating joyful, accessible learning ecosystems for all students.

22/08/2026

Friendly reminder: You hold the power to shape the SXSW EDU 2027 stage!

InnovateEDU is up for three major panels focused on building an equitable, secure, and connected education ecosystem. Have you voted for all three yet?

Here's your 60-second voting checklist:
✅ Systems for Equity: https://participate.sxsw.com/flow/sxsw/sxsw27/community-voting-edu/page/community-voting/session/1784911614504001dVjL
✅ Safe AI in Classrooms: https://participate.sxsw.com/flow/sxsw/sxsw27/community-voting-edu/page/community-voting/session/1785070221681001mLjc
✅ Uncommon Alliances: https://participate.sxsw.com/flow/sxsw/sxsw27/community-voting-edu/page/community-voting/session/1784936243138001cJj0

Thank you for backing our vision for safer, smarter, and more equitable education technology!

21/08/2026

Giving students access to an AI tutor is not the same as getting them to use it. That's one of the clearest findings from the National Student Support Accelerator and the Stanford AI Group at Stanford University 's new research brief on AI tutoring.

Across two randomized controlled trials in elementary schools:
‣ 40-47% of students never logged on to the AI platform at all
‣ Students who did log on used it for only 4-5 weeks across a multi-month intervention
‣ Average usage was just 2-5 minutes per week, far below the dosage associated with reading gains

In another study involving 181,000 students using a supplemental math platform, only 5% reached the recommended 30 minutes per week, while 41% never logged on.

💡The Takeaway: as districts consider AI tutoring, implementation and student engagement deserve as much attention as the technology itself. Explore the new evidence in the new brief: https://scale.stanford.edu/research-in-action/ai-tutoring-not-monolith.

21/08/2026

Most AI discussions focus on high school and higher ed – but what does responsible innovation look like in early education?

InnovateEDU CEO Erin Mote joins Aruna Gilbert (Early Learning Coalition of Palm Beach County) on The Early Education Conversation to discuss what AI actually means for early childhood education.

In this podcast, Erin and Aruna unpack:

➤ How AI is actively shifting early education and what we should actually optimize for.
➤ What safe, age-appropriate AI integration looks like before kindergarten.
➤ Where technology and early childhood learning intersect for the next generation.

The new podcast episode drops on Thursday, August 27! Don’t miss it: https://tinyurl.com/3vpmeb4t

20/08/2026

Please join us in giving a warm welcome to the newest member of the InnovateEDU team, Adri Bernal Martinez!

Adri joins us as our new Marketing and Communications Associate, where she'll join the MarComm team to drive brand strategy, content creation, and storytelling initiatives across all of our projects.

Adri brings a rich, diverse communications background spanning entertainment and gaming media, as well as mission-driven marketing centered on equity, inclusion, and expanding access to higher education. She holds a B.A. in Public Relations from the University of Southern California and an MSc in Digital Marketing from King’s College London.

Her passion for crafting creative content that truly connects with audiences will be instrumental as we continue building an equitable, connected learning ecosystem. We are so excited to have you on the team, Adri!

20/08/2026

Tech bans in schools don't protect kids, they just leave them unprepared.

InnovateEDU CEO Mote breaks down "The Prohibition Fallacy" and why banning classroom technology and AI tools creates a false sense of safety while deepening the digital divide in her latest piece with Forbes Nonprofit Council .

Real protection doesn't come from sweeping bans; it comes from intentional guardrails, strong data governance, and active digital literacy. When we remove technology instead of teaching students how to navigate it responsibly, we strip away the exact skills they need to thrive in a digital world.

Read Erin's full breakdown on why P-12 education must shift from outright prohibition to proactive, safe-by-design innovation: https://www.forbes.com/councils/forbesnonprofitcouncil/2026/08/18/the-prohibition-fallacy-why-banning-tech-wont-protect-our-kids/

If we want a safer, smarter and more transparent digital future, we need to move past reactive prohibition and focus on comprehensive, accountable governance.

19/08/2026

InnovateEDU kept busy this summer with our podcast series. Our project teams spoke with researchers and district technology experts to discuss how schools can prioritize safety in AI adoption and the positive impact of learner-centered environments.

Listen to the newest podcast episodes and learn more about how experts are navigating as education continues to evolve:

➤ Moving from a Rush to a Measured Approach in Education with Mary Burns (The Brookings Institution) – Exploring how AI can revitalize liberal arts education, cultivate flexible thinking, and challenge educators to rethink the purpose – and pace – of AI adoption. 🔗 https://tinyurl.com/jsety343
➤ Putting Standards First, Technology Second with Dr. Eva Harvell (Pascagoula-Gautier School District) – Unpacking how Pascagoula-Gautier’s flexible AI guidance empowers educators, parents and students to adopt AI responsibly while keeping learning standards – not technology – at the center. 🔗 https://tinyurl.com/4pzkfj2n
➤ The Ripple Effect: How Learner-Centered Environments Support Every Student with Dr. Khara Schoenfeld (Education Reimagined) – Discussing how learner-centered environments support students with learning differences, create a ripple effect, and put each learner’s unique strengths at the center. 🔗 https://tinyurl.com/mr4547uj
➤ Data Magic Episode 11: K-12 Cybersecurity & Data Protection: Securing the Classroom – Exploring K-12 cybersecurity, data governance and the guardrails schools need as AI enters the classroom. 🔗 https://tinyurl.com/5n6uremc

Looking for something to listen to on your next break? Give these a listen and let us know what you think!

19/08/2026

We’re excited to share the latest update to the K–12 Teacher Apprenticeship Compendium from Pathways Alliance! In this update, we highlight new and expanded programs in Massachusetts, Michigan, Nebraska, Ohio, and Pennsylvania that are all aligned with the U.S. Department of Labor ’s National Guideline Standard.

These programs prove that when states, school districts, workforce boards, and higher education institutions align we can build robust pipelines that effectively recruit, prepare, and retain exceptional teachers.

Explore the full compendium:

In August 2022, federal, state, and local workforce and education leaders gathered to set a benchmark for high-quality teaching apprenticeship programs. This initiative was launched in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Education and the U.S. Department of Labor to develop comprehensive guide...

19/08/2026

It’s Back to School Season! A successful school year requires more than just new supplies. It relies on a strong, modern operational infrastructure behind the scenes.

At InnovateEDU, we work year-round with partners nationwide to ensure school districts have the robust data systems, evidence-backed tools, and structural support they need to hit the ground running.

Get involved with us this school year! Explore our national projects and find out how you can join a cohort, access resources, or participate in our initiatives:
➤ EDSAFE AI Alliance: Engage with the global network for safe, equitable AI in education.
➤ Educating All Learners Alliance (EALA): Access resources supporting diverse learning needs.
➤ Partnership for Student Success (PSS): Scale evidence-backed tutoring and mentorship.
➤Pathways Alliance: Support and diversify the teacher workforce pipeline.
➤Project Unicorn: Advance data interoperability and security in your district.
➤National AI Literacy Day: Bring AI literacy resources to your community.

Wishing all students, educators, and leaders a smooth and productive start to the school year!