empowerschoools.org has a new look.

It's been ten years since Empower Schools began its journey towards empowering educators and transforming education. As we reflect on our first decade of education innovation, we're proud of our progress and impact on students, educators, and communities across the United States. Empower Schools was born from a crucial realization: isolated efforts in educational innovation, though necessary, could not sufficiently address the broader, systemic challenges inherent to our education system. This insight spurred thoughtful dialogues with community leaders and education innovation pioneers, leading to a consensus on the need for a unified strategy. This strategy would integrate effectively within the existing educational framework to better serve a broader range of students.

Ten years ago, three schools shared the Chestnut campus in Springfield, MA. All ranked at the very bottom of the state's accountability system – even the one designated an honors academy. Today, however, the programming in the building has undergone a radical and successful transformation. That honors program is the most improved school in the state, and the other schools now in the building have designed purposes and goals. These additional schools include a culturally responsive dual language school and a wall-to-wall early college program where high school students earn college credits and associate degrees.

Nearly one in five students in the United States attend a rural school. These schools are critical institutions serving as the backbone of small communities and playing a pivotal role in educating the next generation of citizens. Despite their integral role and evolving demographics, rural schools often receive less attention and have access to fewer resources than their urban and suburban counterparts. Since 2018, Empower Schools has taken significant steps to change this disparity, starting with a transformative initiative in Premont, Texas. This systemic approach revitalized the local education system and brought new life to the community, ultimately preparing students for successful futures in an increasingly complex workforce.

We know from robust research that demographics play a large role in the destiny of too many students and that economic mobility is significantly more difficult to achieve for students from high-poverty neighborhoods and rural communities. We also know that high school or even college graduation is only part of the puzzle - that students do better in school and life when they have access to career exploration and navigation, strong college and career advising, and meaningful work-based learning in the form of internships, apprenticeships, and pathways to certification in their field of interest. For over a decade, Empower Schools has supported the pioneers of “remixing” high school, college, and career to help students persist in college, graduate with relevant credentials, and achieve family-sustaining wages. Our systemic approach helps students access fulfilling careers through Early College and Career Pathways.

"In rural Colorado, school districts broke down attendance boundaries and pooled resources to prepare students for college and good jobs."

"Building the School Autonomy Framework became much bigger than the framework itself. It’s been about the process. With CPRL’s help, we used a people and process lens to develop the framework. It’s been about building relationships, communicating transparently, delivering on what we had promised, and building systems that include accountability but also support."