Innovate for Action

10/15/2026

✨ Today, we are excited to announce that Innovate Public Schools is now Innovate for Action!

“Innovate Public Schools” was the right name for where we began as an organization over a decade ago to help families organize around their schools for better teachers, better resources, and a real seat at the table.

But as our CEO Michelle Vilchez shares, "We’re no longer just organizing around individual schools, we’re building the civic infrastructure that shapes the legislative and budgetary systems that determine whether children get what they need."

Today, our name is evolving to match the growing power of our movement. We know that creating great schools also requires strengthening the broader, interconnected systems – housing, health, economic opportunity, and civic participation – that shape children’s lives.

Read more about our evolution here: https://lnkd.in/eqV-Ap6c

10/12/2026

We are excited to share a new IEP toolkit from our partners, SPEducational!

Frustrated by the lack of family friendly information to help them navigate special education, SpEducational ’s parent leaders created their own. The new bilingual IEP toolkit gives families the knowledge and tools to become confident, effective advocates.

Our IEP Toolkit, by Families for Families IEP Toolkit (English) IEP Toolkit (español) Our parent leaders created an IEP Toolkit for families in accessible, easy to read language. Frustrated by the lack of family friendly information to help them navigate special education, SpEducational’s parent ...

10/01/2026

What do San Francisco school board candidates think about the issues that matter most to families?

Join Innovate Public Schools and the Guadalupe Elementary School PTA to find out!

At this candidate forum, families will hear directly from candidates and have a chance to ask questions about the budget, special education, high-impact tutoring, and more.

This candidate forum will feature:

💬 A candidate discussion and Q&A (English-Spanish translation available)

☕ Coffee and donuts

✨ An opportunity to connect with families and parent leaders

Date: October 21, 2026

Time: 6:00-8:00pm

Location: Guadalupe Elementary School
859 Prague St, San Francisco, CA 94112

Registration is required to attend- register here today: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeYNCdGoKcryfmQtCxfxJR0KI14IPKZpMhOdiL6Kgen0iaMeQ/viewform

09/30/2026

What does family power look like in action?

For more than a decade, Innovate has worked alongside parents and families to advocate for better schools. Today, that work reaches beyond individual schools to the policies, institutions, and public systems that shape children’s opportunities and futures.

That means signing coalition letters, weighing in with state agencies, talking directly with policymakers, and working alongside organizations across California to bring family priorities to the table.

Here’s a look at where we’ve been raising our voice recently, and why these issues matter to the families and communities we organize with: https://innovateschools.org/press-releases/innovates-2026-california-legislative-priorities/

05/26/2026

Right now, the Los Angeles Unified School District is developing a new strategic plan that will cover how the district will drive student success in 2026-2030. We are proud to share that Innovate is once again partnering with LAUSD to develop the Family Guide to the Strategic Plan!

The Family Guide helps parents and families understand the Strategic Plan and have conversations with schools and the district about how the plan is being implemented.

To create the Family Guide, Innovate is co-facilitating a series of focus groups with LAUSD’s Office of Family Engagement and families across the district.

Learn more about this important work!
https://innovateschools.org/press-releases/lausd-strategic-plan-family-guide-update/

05/14/2026

The Golden State Teacher Grant Program is critical to building a robust and diverse educator pipeline in CA. But you don’t have to take our word for it. Hear from a GSTG recipient on the importance of this program, Governor Gavin Newsom David Alvarez Sasha Renée Pérez Senator John Laird Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel: https://youtu.be/HgEUDJ6tM1w?si=L3Py6-vt6OXzyQ_x

Power in the Pipeline is a series led by the Aya Education Coalition in partnership with our sister organization, EdVoice Institute, the Black Educators Advo...

04/21/2026

California’s student population is highly diverse—but school leadership doesn’t yet reflect that reality.

Support the Diverse Education Leaders Pipeline Initiative (DELPI) to grow and elevate more leaders of color. 🎓🤝