We provide a range of entry points into school design because we believe in the power of modeling the kind of learning we want for children — and one size certainly doesn’t fit all. There are multiple opportunities for you to join us.
Past Institutes:
February 10-11, 2018, Norwood, MA
March 24-25, 2018, Springfield, MA
October 13-14, 2018, Babson Park, MA
November 2-3, 2019, Framingham, MA
School Design Institutes
These weekend Institutes are for school teams who are ready to roll up their sleeves and rethink schools. During each Institute, teams create innovative solutions to problems affecting student learning. You will learn school design skills and receive coaching, feedback, and the support you need to help continue your next steps in your home community.
Teams representing all K-12 grade spans and public governance models (district, charter, turnaround, pilot, innovation) are welcome to apply to participate in School Design Institutes. We provide lodging and meals during the event, and all participants receive stipends for completing an Institute. After participating, teams are eligible to apply for grants to support their work to implement solutions they developed during the Institute. Learn more about the Institutes.
School Model Design Studio
This three-day, hands-on working session is for teams that want help to create innovative school models (whole-school redesign or new school design). The design experience supports teams to articulate the problem to solve; understand the learners to be served; apply key levers for high-quality, innovative learning design; and develop action plans for their continued work following the event. See the Frequently Asked Questions page for more information about the July 17-19, 2018 event held in central Massachusetts.
Planning Grants
The Request for Learning and application for planning grants was released on September 17, 2018, and applications were due on November 5, 2018. These grants are intended to support Massachusetts teams who wish to dig deeper into the planning of their school designs. Teams will receive up to $150,000 accompanied by 15 months (Jan 2019–March 2020) of supports like coaching and professional learning to help them plan new school models or redesign existing schools. Learn more.
Implementation Grants
This grant opportunity is one component of Mass IDEAS’ broader strategy to catalyze high-quality, innovative learning experiences that all of the Commonwealth’s students need to thrive in the 21st century. On May 18, 2020, Mass IDEAS announced our first implementation grantees, teams that are redesigning public schools across Massachusetts. The implementation grants of up to $375,000 per team, combined with professional learning and coaching from Mass IDEAS, will work in tandem to promote effective school model implementation. Grants were awarded to Barnstable Intermediate School, Mohawk Trail Regional School, and Monument Mountain Regional High School. Learn more.
Mass IDEAS will also connect participants to content workshops, learning excursions, and other partner resources available across Massachusetts as a way to build collective knowledge.