Written by Aurora Dreger, Project Director, Educating All Learners Alliance

As the year draws to a close and I reflect on my first full year as the EALA Project Director, I am filled with overwhelming gratitude for the committed community I have the honor to lead.

By design, EALA is an “uncommon coalition,” bringing together a diverse network of partners – teachers, parents, edtech leaders, and non-profits – who often wouldn’t sit in the same room.

We operate on a simple, yet powerful conviction: progress in education doesn’t just happen from the top down. True, lasting change is unlocked when those closest to the challenge are empowered to engage with decision-makers and influence system-level change. Even when the work is demanding, I am continually inspired to be part of this extraordinary work.  It is encouraging to work alongside those who aim to  deliberately tear down silos and empower the people on the front lines in order to show the “pathway to possible” for every learner.

 In recent months, the EALA community produced some incredible bright spots:

• On December 3, EALA, New America, and EDSAFE AI Alliance convened a high-level roundtable in Washington, D.C. to update the policy brief Prioritizing Students with Disabilities in AI Policy. Bringing together advocates, educators, and policy experts ensures that the recommendations in our foundational policy brief are updated to reflect emerging AI use cases. Stay tuned for the release of the new brief in early 2026.  

• The inaugural All Learners Action Lab cohort continues with 10 school teams, composed of dedicated educators and leaders, committed to centering students with disabilities and piloting effective instructional practices. Through virtual sessions, the cohort will continue its professional development and receive support from our network of pro-bono EALA mentors. A comprehensive brief will be released to share the lessons learned and highlight this model for the broader field.
• Partner call, workshops and Coffee talks: Our Partner Calls are a consistent forum for active participation, allowing partners to stay current on EALA initiatives and exchange valuable field updates (and it’s not-so-secretly my favorite part of the week) Our live workshops and smaller, more intimate “coffee talks” intentionally creates space for us to sink our teeth into topics such like “Designing Flexible Learning Experiences for Neurodivergent Students,” “Leading without Losing Your Impact.”
• This January, we will launch our fifth phase of the Community of Action. This dynamic 36-hour participatory grant-funding event brings together 30 innovators and practitioners to form teams and design solutions. The most unique and connective aspect of the CoA is that the community members themselves form teams, design solutions, and vote on which projects receive funding to move from idea to reality. 

The progress described above is only possible because of our vibrant “network of networks” approach.

If you are part of a school, district, or non-profit, become an EALA Partner. This no-cost membership opens the door to collaboration, resource sharing, and opportunities to participate in our highest-impact initiatives.

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