One of the most inspiring aspects of working with school systems across the country is seeing how deeply educators care about their learners. However, without district-wide alignment, their efforts can feel fragmented, leaving educators overwhelmed and learners underserved.
This is why coherence matters. When a system has too many competing initiatives, implementation suffers and outcomes fall short. That's why we support districts with identifying a small handful of Big Moves that will lead to outsized results over the course of their 3-5 year strategic plans.
Just last week, a new report was published by the Center for Innovation in Education and the University of Kentucky summarizing their Allen County (Kentucky) Research Project. This report focuses on the district's assessment and accountability systems and structures, and the first key finding shows that "collaboratively designing new systems of assessment and accountability with impacted stakeholders increases trust, satisfaction, and local ownership."
A few years ago, we worked with the Allen County community to develop their Portrait of a Patriot and strategic plan, utilizing one of our core operating principles: We Take an Inclusive Approach. No matter who we partner with, we always create the time and space for all voices and experiences to be heard and integrated into each phase of our work together. It's so exciting to see how that principle has sustained itself in current work throughout the district, and is a key proof point that bringing community voices to the table—including students, families, and business leaders—creates high-impact solutions.
If this approach aligns with your learning community's values, and you're ready to go all-in on learner-centered change, let's talk through what your next best step might look like!Reach out to Learner-Centered Collaborative today!
EXPANDING THE NETWORK
Sharing insights with learner-centered educators nationwide
Events & Webinars
FEATURED EVENT: Breaking Up With Grades: Shifting Mindsets Toward Competency-Based Assessment and Reporting to Improve Learning (register here)
October 25, 2025, 10:00am-4:00pm CT | New Orleans, LA
EVENT: Connections Fall Leadership Convening (learn more)
October 21-22 | Fargo, ND
WEBINAR: How Districts Are Making Big Moves to Create Learner-Centered Systems (register here)
November 18, 12:00-1:00pm PT | Virtual
October 21-22 | Fargo, ND
WEBINAR: Community Conversation: Let’s Talk About Competency-Based Learning (register here)
"Hampton Township hosted a two-day in-person kickoff of FutureShift, a PA and NY community of practice for instructional coaches ready to support the evolution to learner-centered models. Coaches from seven districts came together to create alignment and build coaching processes, structures, and resources in service of helping teachers create learning experiences that bring the Portrait of a Learner to life." ~Brittany Griffin
"Mamaroneck leaders convened for their Leadership Series by digging into the district’s Strategic Framework and Scorecard as tools to guide implementation and measure progress. School and district leaders reflected on current strengths, identified priorities, and prototyped strategies. The day built shared clarity, energized collaboration across schools, and set the foundation for meaningful work to continue this fall." ~Meg Parry
"Students, parents, teachers, and staff from Keith McCarthy Academy's design team (Lake Elsinore Unified School District) gathered to refine their mission and vision, identify top ideas for redesign, and engage in a "stretching" protocol that encouraged bold, audacious thinking about what's possible at their site." ~Jesse Ross
Celebrating learner-centered leaders doing transformational work
Kim Smith, Founder and CEO of LearnerStudio, has a long track record in educational entrepreneurship, having led or co-founded organizations such as the Pahara Institute, Bellwether Education Partners, and NewSchools Venture Fund, and serving as a founding team member at Teach For America.
Under her leadership, LearnerStudio is shaping new infrastructure and learning models that push toward a more flexible learner-centered system. The Signposts page is a tremendous resource—offering fresh research, provocative essays, and bold thinking on emerging signals in education that can help guide how we reimagine learning for a rapidly changing world.
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