Abington School District Accepted into National Network of Innovative School Districts

ASD joins Digital Promise League of Innovative Schools, will connect with other leading school systems to advance equity and excellence

Abington School District was accepted into the League of Innovative Schools, a national coalition of forward-thinking K-12 school districts organized by Digital Promise, a global nonprofit working to expand opportunity for every learner by bringing together solutions across research, practice, and technology.

ASD was selected from a competitive national pool of applicants based on its educational leadership, demonstrated commitment to equity and excellence, innovative vision for learning, and key achievements.

“It is an honor to be accepted into the League of Innovative Schools as the coalition aligns perfectly with Abington School District’s mission to make its schools future-forward, innovative learning environments, with a focus on inclusive and equitable practices,” Dr. Jeffrey Fecher, Abington School District’s Superintendent of Schools, said. “We are pleased to work with more than 150 co-membering districts nationwide, all of whom are committed to promoting academic excellence and achievement for every student.”

The Digital Promise League of Innovative Schools launched within the U.S. Department of Education in 2011, and accepts new members through an open application process once per year. The full list of members can be found at digitalpromise.org/districts.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on learning, but it has also emphasized the need to introduce innovative educational approaches to better meet students’ needs,” said Dewayne J. McClary, senior director of Networks and Partnerships at Digital Promise. “The League strives to build a collaborative of close-knit districts that work together on shared priorities to design, validate, champion, and scale effective, innovative learning opportunities to advance equity and excellence for every student.”

League members are represented by their superintendents, who commit to:

• Attending biannual League meetings, which feature classroom visits, collaborative problem-solving, and relationship-building with peers and partners; 
• Participating in League cohorts and research and development (R&D) pilots focusing on a broad range of topics relevant to the changing needs and priorities of school districts; 
• Supporting Digital Promise research and provide critical feedback so it translates easily into classroom experiences and expands what we know about teaching and learning; 
• Engaging with entrepreneurs to advance edtech product development steeped in the latest learning science and meets district needs; and 
• Participating in the League’s professional learning community by connecting with other members online, in person, and at each other’s school districts.

Working with educators, researchers, technology leaders, and communities, Digital Promise and the League of Innovative Schools provide an environment for superintendents and district leaders to share and learn from best practices; leverage research and participate in continuous improvement models; engage in R&D projects with peers to address education’s biggest challenges; and implement new technologies and innovations in their school systems.

The League will officially welcome new members at its fall meeting in October. The new members’ entrance into the League extends the network’s reach to more than 150 districts across 38 states, and expands its cumulative impact to 4.4 million students served over time.

For more information on the Digital Promise League of Innovative Schools, visit: digitalpromise.org/league. 

About Digital Promise

Digital Promise is a global nonprofit working to expand opportunity for every learner. We work with educators, researchers, technology leaders, and communities to design, investigate, and scale innovations that support learners, especially those who’ve been historically and systematically excluded. Our vision is that every person engages in powerful learning experiences that lead to a life of well-being, fulfillment, and economic mobility. For more information, visit the Digital Promise website and follow @digitalpromise for updates.