February 12, 2026

Dear Educator,

This week, we launched our California Secondary School Redesign Community of Practice with 12 district partners committed to reimagining what school can be. Together, we’ll share lessons from the field, surface what’s working, navigate real barriers, and accelerate meaningful change so that young people develop the knowledge, skills, and mindsets to navigate an unpredictable world.

School Redesign work isn’t simple. It requires courage to question long-held assumptions and persistence to build something better. And, there’s a palpable sense of urgency and possibility to move this work forward. I’m deeply grateful for the educators choosing to disrupt the status quo of what no longer serves students and design experiences aligned to the world young learners are inheriting.

If we’ve been talking about change for decades, now is the moment to lean in and build models that embody it. This week’s Bright Spot is an example how we can move from ideas to action.

With Gratitude,

Learning Models That Can Meet This Moment

In December, more than 75 young people and cross-sector leaders gathered to confront the reality that our world is being reshaped by AI, economic volatility, and rapid social change, while our learning models aren't evolving at the same pace.

The Liftoff Design Sprint provided the group with 10 open-source learning models grounded in youth voice, whole-learner development, and meaningful AI integration. These weren’t polished endpoints. They were bold starting points designed to spark imagination, invite iteration, and catalyze local innovation.

If we want schools that cultivate agency, connection, and real-world readiness, we need models that help us see what’s possible. I invite you to explore these reimagined learning models and let us know your thoughts!

Reimagining Learning Models is a core workstream within our Framework for the Future service. If your school or district is ready to reimagine what learning could be in your community, let's find a time to connect and see what we might create together. Reach out to us here.

Kate Weisberg was also in attendance at the LiftOff Design Sprint and, in her latest blog, shares her full experience with the various learner-designed activities. This is a must-read if you want a deeper understanding of the world young people are navigating today that we simply never experienced in our own youth. Read here.

Resources to advance your learner-centered practice

🎙️ Rethinking High School—Career, Community, & Learner Agency (with Dr. Jason Van Heukelum). "In this episode, Dr. Katie Martin talks with Dr. Jason Van Heukelum about redesigning success in public education and creating learning environments that honor student agency, purpose, and real-world relevance. Jason shares stories from his own journey—from teaching math to leading district-wide innovation—and reflects on how schools can move beyond compliance-driven models toward experiences that truly prepare learners for life beyond graduation." Listen to this episode.

🛋️ Classroom Strategy: Design a Flexible Learning Space. "Flexible learning environments are spaces that honor the fact that learning happens both in and outside of the traditional classroom. They also enable opportunities for collaboration and student agency when deciding where and how to learn." Get inspired here.

💡 System-Wide Big Move: Physical Space Design. "Physical spaces, when designed with intention, can enable the Learning Model to be fully embraced by a school, shaping the learning environment to align with the Portrait of a Learner. The guiding principle is that form drives function and that both influence and reflect a school’s culture." Learn what you can do in your space.