As educators work through another unpredictable year, schools must lean into reinvention. The sudden onset of COVID-19 forced schools and systems to change on the fly, required teachers, families and students to develop new ways of teaching and learning, and proved schools are capable of rapid and significant change. The old, familiar ways of doing school left too many behind, and as the country continues to face new challenges, we should embrace this opportunity to develop approaches that more equitably serve students — especially those who have been historically marginalized, such as students of color.

The Canopy Project, which our foundations support, tracked how hundreds of schools across the country adapted and innovated last year in student-centered ways. The adaptations these schools developed hold enormous potential to address longstanding inequities. Here are some examples from public schools in New York; Massachusetts; Washington, D.C.; Maine; Connecticut; and North Carolina.

  • Strengthening communication and partnership with families
  • Personalizing supports to ensure all students get the opportunity they need
  • Expanding the idea of where learning can happen

Read the full article about COVID-19 school innovation by Jenny Curtin, Melanie Dukes, and Saskia Levy Thompson at The 74.