FOR FUNDERS
Learning environments in the Canopy project represent the seeds of a vibrant movement to reinvent public education as a resilient, equitable system that nurtures the unique potential of every student. This movement needs support to take root, demonstrate efficacy, and spread.
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Read and share our 2023 findings on how schools around the country are dreaming and designing equitable, student-centered learning environments.
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Listen to Canopy researchers discuss the project in a recent podcast episode. They hope it can assist others in identifying innovations that could prove of value to others with a focus on student-centered and equitable learning opportunities for all.
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Share the Canopy Data User Guide, featuring a portal tutorial and examples for how people are already using the data in the field.
Recommendations
Education funders play a critical role. Funders should:
Create or expand an innovation portfolio. School leaders report philanthropic funding is critical to seed innovations in public schools, and for innovation not eligible for public funding. Funding for innovation is critical in public districts, charter schools, and for educator entrepreneurs without access to public dollars. Grants with longer funding cycles and non-traditional metrics of success are particularly valuable.
Develop funding strategies informed by schools’ priorities and practices. Canopy schools are innovating in ways that directly respond to their own context, demographics, and community priorities. Funders should develop funding strategies that are informed directly by the problems and outcomes that innovative learning environments are targeting.
Prioritize innovation that explicitly seeks to rewire systems for greater equity. Though it’s tempting to valorize innovation for its own sake, Canopy school leaders’ efforts to reimagine schooling are often motivated by a fundamental drive to design a more equitable system. Funding should prioritize innovation efforts to advance equity in education, especially those led by people who understand the strengths and needs of communities through shared identity or lived experience.
Use publicly-available information wherever possible to understand where innovation is underway. Canopy school leaders need resources and support, but can become overly burdened by requests for information about their work. Consider lightening or removing this burden by using readily available information, like from the Canopy project, to research and invite applicants, or to build understanding of potential grantees’ work.
Interested in discussing these recommendations?
Photos by Allison Shelley/The Verbatim Agency for EDUimages