February 26, 2026

Dear Educator,

As schools work to better engage learners, develop new models, and evolve traditional school-centered systems, many are building dual operating systems—structures that allow them to continue running today’s schools while simultaneously testing and developing what’s next.

True research and development isn’t about purchasing pilot programs or experimenting with the latest shiny tool. It starts with clarity and conviction: naming the change we seek, identifying what we are willing to disrupt, and protecting what we hold sacred.

Real innovation requires co-design with community members, students, and educators. It demands deep empathy for lived experiences, surfacing meaningful insights, prototyping thoughtfully, and learning quickly. Success is not measured by how faithfully an initiative was implemented, but by whether it genuinely improved learning, belonging, and opportunity for young people. Let's look at an example of how this might develop in communities like yours.

With Gratitude,

Microschools as Local R&D for Public Districts

One example of this kind of intentional R&D is the launch of a Southern California microschool network designed to innovate from within the public system—not outside of it. A few weeks ago, we brought together six schools within districts to learn together and design a microschool to launch in the fall.

The purpose was not to create something separate, but to empathize deeply with families, map community assets, and identify opportunities to test new programs in context. These microschools serve as a strategic innovation engine for the broader system.

Public microschools are uniquely positioned to be agile and responsive. Their small scale allows educators to adapt quickly to emerging needs, design flexible learning environments, and create more personalized pathways for students. They also offer educators greater autonomy and meaningful opportunities for professional growth—key drivers for attracting and retaining talented teachers.

While microschools intentionally serve a limited number of students, their value extends far beyond their size. They function as learning labs—places to prototype new approaches, gather evidence, and refine practices that can inform improvements across the entire system.

When thoughtfully designed, microschools don’t limit access to innovation; they expand it. They create pathways that respond to specific learner needs and community priorities, ultimately strengthening the broader ecosystem of schools.

Launching a microschool isn't something that happens overnight. It requires meaningful alignment within and across a system, so from vision to design to implementation, your team is ready for each step of the process. If you want to learn more how your team can be ready for this time of learner-centered change, let's have a chat! Reach out to our team here.

It’s time for a shift from the school-centered education system—where efficiency, standardization, compliance, ranking, sorting, and task completion are top priorities—to a learner-centered paradigm, where we focus on supporting each learner to know who they are, thrive in community, and actively engaged in the world as their best selves. “A Learner-Centered Ecosystem” dives deep into how educators can bring a learner-centered approach to life through four key elements. Learn more about the four elements.

Resources to advance your learner-centered practice

📖 Can Regional Innovation Hubs Create a More Promising Future for K-12 Education? "Regional ecosystems offer the ideal scale for experimentation and evolution. They’re big enough to impact systems, small enough to build trust, and flexible enough to adapt to context. In short, regional hubs are where vision meets action." Learn more about regional innovation hubs.

💨 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." See examples here.

🎥 Webinar Recording: Bridging Systems to Transform Student Learning. "In this webinar, five education leaders share lessons from their experience with SoCal LiNK, a Southern California regional network focused on advancing learner-centered education through collaboration, research, and community building." Learn more about local R&D.