The NEA Foundation Institute for Innovation in Teaching and Learning is a structured learning experience that supports local unions and school district leaders’ collaborative efforts to improve education. They will make significant, measurable changes in collective bargaining agreements and education policies and practices to improve teaching and student learning.  

The Institute’s first cohort is comprised of 11 leadership teams drawn from districts chosen for their ability to help lead this effort. Each district’s leadership team includes local union, district administration, and community members. Each has identified issues most critical to their students and has made a commitment to work together toward a common goal: to improve the quality of education for their students.

Access the Institute’s Collaborative Networking Site

 What We Do

The Institute urges a partnership model to improve student achievement, and has expectations of joint teams in terms of the way they think and work together, as well as the issues they address.

The Institute focuses on building the skills and for district-union collaboration on issues of teaching and learning, including the ability to collectively re-imagine the union’s role. The Institute provides a system of support that focuses on the provision of technical assistance and coaching. The first cohort of Institute sites were selected in geographic hubs, in part, to increase their ability to learn from one another as they make progress.

For More Information

The NEA Foundation welcomes all efforts to share information about the Institute. Access the Institute’s collaborative digital network, or download a pdf with a full description of the Institute that you can share with others.