News & Resources
How can we improve our schools? What will help our children learn? Read about innovations in education and what they mean for your school, your children and your community.
New Report: SELA Rising: Fighting for Education Justice for Latino Students in Southeast Los Angeles
Innovate Public Schools' latest research report focuses on the 89 public schools serving 63,000 students in Southeast Los Angeles and was developed in partnership with the University of Southern California and Alliance for a Better Community. The report highlights...
Spotlight on African American Students in Los Angeles
Schools in Los Angeles Unified are falling short in preparing Black students to achieve their full potential. There are more than 50,000 Black students in Los Angeles Unified, making them one of the largest student populations in the state. But, only three out of 10...
Include Me: What to look for and what to do
For students with special needs, the most effective solution for their success may not be as complicated as it seems: inclusion. By giving students the chance to learn in the same environment and with the same curriculum as general education students, they can gain...
Believe in Me: What to look for and what to ask
Students with disabilities face barriers against their success as soon as they walk into the classroom; therefore, it’s important for everyone to believe in the potential of every student.
Join us Sunday to support better funding for Redwood City public schools through Measure H
Innovate parent leaders are supporting the Yes on H campaign to raise funds for all the public elementary and middle schools in Redwood City. Join us this Sunday to learn about Measure H and how to engage other residents to support it!
Big changes are coming for Ravenswood City School District
The Ravenswood City School District has big decisions ahead of it this school year, and Innovate parent and community leaders are getting up to speed to engage in community meetings throughout this fall. We invite you to learn and engage along with us through this series of articles on key education issues in the community.
Redwood City Parents Support Measure H to Fund Local Schools
Parent leaders with Innovate Public Schools recently voted to support Measure H supporting Redwood City public schools that is set to appear on the fall 2019 ballot and plan to have a get out the vote campaign.
LPS Hayward Keys to Success: Carefully frame community college options (Post 6 of 6)
When the vast majority of students at LPS go on to four-year colleges, it is inevitable that students headed to community college often feel a sense of regret. Aguilar emphasizes that schools have to be careful and intentional about how they frame the community college matriculation process.
LPS Hayward Keys to Success: Address the cultural barriers that prevent students from entering college by bringing their parents along in the process (Post 5 of 6)
Many students at LPS will go on to be the first in their families to graduate college. At the beginning of senior year, Aguilar and her team meet with every single senior student and their families.
LPS Hayward Keys to Success: Keep track of each individual student as they overcome administrative barriers to college acceptance (Post 4 of 6)
What sets LPS Hayward apart? The culture at LPS Hayward centers on the idea that every student -- regardless of race or income -- is college material. Dr. Claudia Aguilar leads the college counseling program. Her team creates a college-going culture by...
LPS Hayward Keys to Success: School leaders must make college counseling a priority and back it up with resources (Post 3 of 6)
As a charter school, LPS has had the flexibility to work with Aguilar to make changes and allocate resources in a way that builds a world-class college counseling program. And that investment is paying off in their results.
LPS Hayward Keys to Success: Engage student in college preparation early and differentiate each year as graduation gets closer (Post 2 of 6)
Aguilar often hears a common complaint from freshmen: “You talk about college too much! Can’t we talk about something else?” But by senior year, she notices the feedback changes.
Beyond lip-service: How one high school is systematically sending low-income Latinos to college. (Post 1 of 6)
When you walk into LPS Hayward, a charter high school in Hayward, its unwavering focus on college readiness is immediately apparent. Flags and pennants from colleges and universities decorate every classroom door.
Life Academy Oakland: Distributive leadership that elevates teacher and student voice. (Post 5 of 5)
Each and every member of the Life Academy team is a strong leader. Dr. Frank says that is not an accident: “I spent my last three years doing a lot of deliberate leadership curriculum and I see that in our administration and instructional leadership team.
Life Academy Oakland: Strong, student-centered mission with a clear emphasis on social justice (Post 4 of 5)
Social justice is at the heart of Life Academy’s mission. Their aim to set low-income students on track to enter the health and bioscience field is a direct challenge to the status quo.
Life Academy Oakland: Rigorous experiential and interdisciplinary curriculum that builds out college-level skills (Post 3 of 5)
What is different about Life Academy? Principal Aryn Bowman credits much of the school’s success to its small size, social justice emphasis, rigorous interdisciplinary curriculum, and a deeply committed teaching staff.
Life Academy Oakland: Small school environment with built-in individualized student supports (Post 2 of 5)
At Life Academy students feel like family: “It’s a pretty small school so you know everyone. There’s a different type of connection here.
Life Academy Oakland – Preparing students for life (Post 1 of 5)
Life Academy of Health and Bioscience is a small district middle and high school in the Oakland Unified School District that serves 464 Latino students, of whom 78% are low-income.
Are students of color over-identified or under-identified as having a disability? The answer is both.
Research is conflicting — some studies suggest that students of color are over-identified for special needs, while others show they are under-identified. Either way, this misidentification can limit their achievement in school and beyond.
Finding hidden genius: the importance of STEM education for low-income students
Not all students are getting equal access to STEM education. During the 2015-2016 school year, low-income students and students of color were less likely to have opportunities to take advanced math and science classes. A study from the U.S. Department of Education showed that only 55 percent of high schools with high Black and Latino enrollment — compared to 65 percent of all high schools — offered advanced mathematics. For calculus, only 38 percent of high schools with high Black and Latino student enrollment offered advanced math, compared to 50 percent of all schools.