Esteemed Colleague,

What is the purpose of school? For the past four decades, the prevailing national answer—shaped largely by the 1983 report “A Nation at Risk” and documented by historian Patricia Graham—has been singular: Achievement.

Despite profound social, economic, and technological shifts, this achievement-focused paradigm has proven remarkably resilient (even through a global pandemic). Yet for many, it no longer resonates with what we hope young people gain from their educational experiences. This month, I take a look at how we can redefine the purpose of school and center learners by design.

With anticipation for our shared journey,

Last week, Learner-Centered Collaborative's Co-CEO, Katie Martin, published "A Learner-Centered Ecosystem"—a framework for sustainable learner-centered transformation that is responsive to each community's unique context.

The release of this publication, made possible by the generous support of the Youth Thriving Through Learning Fund, marks a major milestone for our organization and the education field.

It captures the lessons, questions, and insights that have emerged from years of walking alongside educators, systems leaders, and communities as they’ve reimagined what’s possible in education. And, in keeping with our values, we’re proud to make this framework openly accessible—because we believe everyone, regardless of budget or starting point, deserves the tools to create meaningful change in their communities.

"A Learner-Centered Ecosystem" is a call to action. It bridges the why and the how, offering concrete strategies to support learners in developing the knowledge, skills, and mindsets to thrive now and into the future. Whether you’re recasting your district's vision, mission, and values; embarking on a school (re)design project; or just beginning to explore what learner-centered means for your context, this framework is designed to meet you where you are and help you move forward.

We invite you to read it, share it, and join us in shaping systems that reflect what we know learners need to flourish. And, as always, if you're looking for a partner to support the journey ahead, give us a shout!

EVENT: Aurora Institute Symposium (register here)

October 25 - 28, 2025 | New Orleans, LA

WEBINAR RECORDING: Effective Techniques to be a Learner-Centered Leader (watch here)

JOIN US AT OUR NEXT EVENT

"Over 50 Hampton Township leaders and educators came together to review their SY25-26 goals and kick off design team work. Six Design Teams emerged (with a seventh in the works), each with a draft goal, a plan for an empathy phase to gather stakeholder input, draft success criteria, and clear roles and responsibilities for the work ahead. It is so exciting to see the HTSD team bring so many voices into this work!" ~Brittany Griffin

"South San Francisco Unified came together for their end-of-year reflection, celebrating real progress in bringing their Portrait of a Graduate to life. Together, the team has co-designed learning progressions and an instructional vision—laying a strong foundation for meaningful, learner-centered change." ~Devin Vodicka

"A team of educators from Del Mar Union School District met for two days to launch their Assessment Philosophy and Reporting project. Full of positive energy, deep curiosity, and mutual respect, the team began drafting a philosophy statement that will shape the future of assessment, grading, and reporting in DMUSD." ~Meg Parry

LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW WE WORK WITH SCHOOL & DISTRICT PARTNERS

This month, we are proud to recognize Javier Guzman, CEO for Center for Powerful Public Schools, as our Catalyzer of the Month. Javier exemplifies learner-centered leadership through his deep commitment to elevating the voices and experiences of students who are often overlooked—particularly those in California’s continuation high schools. His work reflects a steadfast belief in the power of empathy, storytelling, and systems change to create more just and responsive learning environments. Learn more about Javier's impact and leadership here.