Early Bird Pricing Now through July 31
Check back regularly for speaker annoucements, venue updates, and more.
Innovation Schools Action Summit
PART DEUX
THE FUTURE OF HIGH SCHOOL
JANUARY 27-29, 2027
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NEW ORLEANS
What Is the innovation schools action summit?
A three-day convening for leaders shaping the future of high school.
Across the country, communities are asking more of high school. Students need meaningful pathways to college, career, and economic mobility. Employers need stronger talent pipelines. Families want schools that feel relevant, rigorous, and connected to real opportunity. System leaders are working to build models that can meet all these needs.
The Summit is designed for leaders doing that work. Participants will explore how districts, schools, higher education partners, employers, funders, and policymakers are redesigning high school so students graduate with more than a diploma: real skills, real credentials, real experiences, and real choices for what comes next. Make commitments and create real plans for catalyzing and sustaining Innovation Schools in your learning community.
Calling All Innovators
The Conversations Shaping the Action Summit
Summit Overview
Schedule subject to change. See final confirmation email for your personalized agenda
Jan 27
Breakfast and registration
8:00am-10:30am
Start your Summit with food and other special surprises
call to action
11:00am-12:00pm
Opening remarks to inspire action towards high school redesign
school site visits
12:00pm-2:30pm
See Innovation Schools throughout New Orleans and the greater metropolitan area
In Community
Community Happy Hour followed by an exclusive screening of David Osburne’s Turnaround: The Reinvention of New Orleans' Public Education System
5:00pm-7:00pm
Jan 28
Morning Rally
8:00am-9:00am
Get hyped with breakfast, games, and a special student feature second line
morning plenary
9:00am-10:00am
A conversation with New Orleans students and community members
innovation showcase
10:00am-11:30am
Explore interactive innovation school presentations and exhibitions
Lunch
11:45am-1:00pm
Featuring The Future of High Schools keynote
I do
1:15pm-2:15pm
Various breakout sessions featuring experts
We Do
2:30pm-3:30pm
Various breakout sessions featuring interactive conversations with collegues
You Do
3:45pm-4:45pm
Make meaning and plan action for your community
All In | Action Rally
5:00pm-6:00pm
Group reflections and award nominations
Jan 29
breakfast
9:00am-10:00am
The action Awards
10:00am-11am
Recognizing those who have gave it their all throughout the Summit
office hours
8:00am-9:00am
Walk up conversations and resource request from Empower Schools staff
Early Bird Registration
Now through July 31
EARLY BIRD
JUN 15 - JUL 31
$725
Group tickets available for parties of 3 or more
Contact support for details
LOGISTICS
Programming Locations
Day 1 | January 27
New Orleans Hotel
Various School Sites
New Orleans Movie Theater
Details to Follow
Day 2 | January 28
LSU New Orleans
2000 Lakeshore Drive
New Orleans, LA 70148
Day 3 | January 29
New Orleans Hotel
Details to Follow
Registration Support
For support, email communications@empowerschools.org
Group transportation will be available during the Summit to support programming at various locations.
Travel Accommodations
By attending this event, you consent to be photographed, filmed, or otherwise recorded. Your participation constitutes your agreement that Empower Schools and affiliates may use, reproduce, and distribute your image, likeness, and voice in any media format, including but not limited to promotional materials, social media, websites, and other publications, without compensation or further approval.
Due to the nature of the event, we cannot guarantee that you will never be photographed or recorded. If you do not wish to be photographed, audio recorded, and/or audio visually recorded, please feel free to excuse yourself from any potential photographs and recordings during the event. If you indicate you would not like Empower Schools to use your likeness moving forward, we will take earnest and reasonable efforts to honor your request.
Photography Policy
Frequently Asked Questions
Event and Registration
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Yes. Please complete your registration on or before December 10, 2026 to secure your spot.
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Email communications@empowerschoos.org to modify or cancel your registration
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Contact support to change or cancel your registration. A processing fee of $25 applies for each ticket canceled. Registration can be canceled until December 20, 2026 at 5pm PT. No refunds will be issued after this date.
Support available at communications@empowerschools.org
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Yes. Organizations and individuals may request a transfer by emailing communications@empowerschools.org by the registration deadline.
Be sure to update any hotel reservations directly with the hotel.
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Yes, select sessions will be recorded and made available after the Action Summit.
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Yes. Dress code ranges from business casual to elevated casual. To see dress code per session, see Event Details.
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We encourage attendance at all scheduled events.
Optional sessions will be clearly labeled in the program you receive with your final confirmation email approximately two weeks prior to the Action Summit.
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Contact communications@empowerschools.org
Hotel and Accommodations
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The Action Summit will take place at various locations throughout New Orleans.
Address to be announced
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Yes. Use our link in your emailed invitation to access the Action Summit group block. The block is first come, first served. Booking through this link ensures access to the negotiated group rate. Rates are subject to availability and may not apply to nights outside the block.
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Extensions beyond hosted nights are at your own expense and subject to availability. Contact th ehotel directly. The group rate is guaranteed only for official block dates.
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Group transportation will be available during the Action Summit to support programming at various locations.
If you plan to drive, please note parking availability may vary.
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Hotel
On-site parking is available. Rates are set by the hotel and may change. Please check with the hotel for current pricing.
LSU NOLA
On-site parking is available. Empower Schools will provide parking passes upon check-in.
High School Campus
Parking will not be available at the high school campuses.
We will be using group transportation to travel to school site visits. To ensure timely arrival and avoid creating dismissal-time traffic or other inconviences, we highly reccomend taking the group transportation.