This is just a preview of what’s included in our September newsletter, featuring an opening letter from our president, Timothy Knowles. Click below to explore all the updates!

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

Across the nation, in districts large and small, extraordinary work is taking place to ensure learning is increasingly engaging, rigorous, experiential and career-aligned. While bright spots have existed for decades, the gravitational pull of the status quo is strong and often prevents promising practices from taking root, sustaining and scaling. If we want millions more young people to thrive, it is imperative that we elevate exemplary practices, understand why they succeed and share lessons nationwide. Only then will we be in a position to transform the American high school at broad scale.

The Real World Learning (RWL) Initiative, supported by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, serves as a powerful example of regionwide educational innovation. The initiative is comprised of 34 districts and impacts roughly 100,000 students, across urban, suburban and rural communities, spanning Kansas and Missouri. The goal is to ensure that all high school students in the Kansas City region graduate with one or more “Market Value Assets” (MVAs)—be it through internships, entrepreneurial opportunities, or industry-recognized credentials...