EALA

Theme: Student Engagement and Agency

  • Seeds of Possibility: Connecting Policy to Practice Across Learning Ecosystems

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    This report spotlights eight diverse learning ecosystems to show how communities are creatively linking policy to concrete practices that advance learner agency, out-of-classroom learning, credit earning, and an expanded definition of an educator.

  • A for Effort, Needs Improvement on Execution: Lessons Learned from Failures of AI EdTech Tools

    A for Effort, Needs Improvement on Execution: Lessons Learned from Failures of AI EdTech Tools

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    This report from the Center for Democracy & Technology reviews challenges with AI-based education tools. It outlines how issues with design, implementation, and oversight have limited their effectiveness and offers considerations for future use.

  • Reducing Seclusion in Minnesota Schools: A Community-Led Advocacy Success

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    This case study examines a specific challenge and success story in education advocacy: the defense of a critical policy in Minnesota aimed at reducing the use of seclusion in schools. We will explore how EdAllies, a Minnesota-based organization, mobilized a community-led coalition to protect a recently enacted ban on seclusion for young students, highlighting transferable…

  • Principal Navigator: Special Educator Retention

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    This resource is an interactive tool that helps school and district teams strengthen student and teacher retention. It provides research-based strategies, practical tools, and examples from schools to improve school culture, support staff, and engage families.

  • Cultivating a Strong Assistive Technology Program

    Cultivating a Strong Assistive Technology Program

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    This resource from The Arc provides practical guidance on developing and sustaining strong assistive technology (AT) programs in schools and districts. It highlights best practices for evaluating student needs, integrating AT into instruction, training staff, and partnering with families to ensure students with disabilities have the tools they need to access learning and thrive.

  • Voices of Change: Inside the EALA Community of Action

    Voices of Change: Inside the EALA Community of Action

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    In this Think Inclusive episode, members of the EALA Community of Action share insights from an intensive 36-hour innovation sprint that brought together 22 organizations. The conversation explores how co-design, creativity, and community-driven approaches can generate real solutions for inclusive education. It also features two winning projects awarded funding to advance their ideas, offering a…

  • From Vision to Action: The Collaboration Behind Inclusion Today

    From Vision to Action: The Collaboration Behind Inclusion Today

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    This podcast episode from Think Inclusive spotlights how the Educating All Learners Alliance (EALA) and the Maryland Coalition for Inclusive Education (MCIE) worked together to move inclusive education from concept to practice. It highlights a national campaign launched to expand inclusive learning environments, reflecting on the collaborative process, shared vision, and strategies that can guide…

  • The Power of Examples in Action: Catalyzing Change for All Learners

    The Power of Examples in Action: Catalyzing Change for All Learners

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    The EALA School Study Tours Learning Agenda Research Brief showcases how guided school visits, reflection protocols, and collaborative planning help educators adopt inclusive practices that benefit all learners. Featuring 12 Promising Practices—from leader commitment to community engagement—the brief offers evidence-based strategies and real-world examples for improving outcomes for students with disabilities and learning differences.

  • AI in Service of Learner-Centered Education: A Case Study in Redesigning the High School Experience

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    This case study explores how Iowa BIG, a learner-centered high school program, is integrating generative AI to enhance personalized learning, student agency, and real-world problem-solving. By empowering students to co-design their learning experiences using AI tools, educators are shifting the focus from traditional content delivery to mentorship and deeper engagement. The study highlights benefits, challenges,…

  • Mapping the Journey from Improvement to Impact

    Mapping the Journey from Improvement to Impact

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    This white paper from Marshall Street outlines lessons from a multi-year improvement initiative with 10 charter networks. It describes strategies like practitioner-led inquiry and data use to drive better outcomes for students with disabilities.