The Social Studies Accelerator is launching a cohort-based professional learning and community-building experience in 2025 for school system social studies leads. The System Leader Learning Lab (SL3) program will address common barriers to implementing high-quality, culturally responsive social studies materials, ultimately aiming to increase usage in schools to enrich students’ learning experiences. See below for more information about this learning lab and joining our inaugural cohort.

SL3 Cohort participants will leave the program with…

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    Strategies and tools to overcome common barriers to implementing high-quality curriculum effectively in diverse educational contexts

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    Enhanced leadership skills to support advocating for social studies including: communication, change management, relationship-building, and finding resources to support the work

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    Practical experience applying program learnings to real-life challenges, equipping districts with the tools to deliver high-quality content to their teachers

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    Access to a robust network of social studies leaders for sharing best practices and thought partnership to address challenges, advance your career, and maximize impact for students

Participant Profile

We’re looking for social studies leads working in school districts or charter organizations enrolling 5,000 students or more with:

Strong influence over social studies curriculum decisions

Evidence of engagement in activities to advance social studies and civic education

Existing ideas on how to innovate/make change in the space

Buy-in from manager or organization

Ability to articulate a problem to apply learning to throughout the program

Program Content

The program will consist of seven 2-3 hour workshops held virtually from April to December 2025. Actual dates and times of all sessions will be released in early 2025. Session topics are included here.

SL3 Introduction, Frameworks and Applied Learning Projects | April 2025

1

Vision Setting | May 2025

2

3

Curriculum: Content Creators and Codesign | June 2025

4

Building Shared Interest to Accelerate Change | July 2025

5

Change Management & Relationship Building | September 2025

6

Communication & Leadership | October 2025

7

Curriculum Evaluation & Showcase | December 2025

Program Timeline

Actual dates for the timeline below will be updated in early January 2025

Timeline

Application Available: Mid-January 2025

Application Deadline: February 21, 2025

Application Review: February through Early March 2025

Interviews: February through Mid-March 2025

Selection & Intake: Mid-Late March 2025

Program: April-December 2025

Program Details

Requirements:

  • Seven 2-3 hour virtual sessions with expert facilitators

  • Homework assignments focused on applying learnings from sessions to your own work.

Additional Features:

  • Opportunity to attend monthly office hours with field experts & facilitators

  • Network of cohort members, experts, and alumni

Cost: Participation in this inaugural cohort (valued at $5,000 tuition) is FREE to participants, generously sponsored by our funders

Submit your application or referral here

  • Social Studies leads can apply directly

  • There is also an option to refer or recommend someone from your school system or network

  • Applications are due by 11:59p PT on February 21, 2025

✺ Frequently asked questions ✺

  • Sessions are led by our core program facilitators and experts in the field:

    Program Facilitators

    • Andrea Foggy-Paxton, Founder at Social Studies Accelerator & Entrepreneur-in-Residence at EdLoC

    • Ebony McKiver, Chief Program Officer & Social Studies Content Expert at Social Studies Accelerator

    • Robert Sheffield, Managing Partner at ScaleUp & former President at CORE Learning

    • Evan Gutierrez, CEO at CommonGood Education

    Example Collaborators

  • The individuals best suited for SL3 are those most directly responsible for selecting, evaluating or implementing social studies content for your school system. This person may have a central office role (ex. Director of Social Studies, Social Studies Coordinator), but in some districts, may have a school-based role with additional district-wide social studies responsibilities. Alongside the participant profile, individuals that are available and committed to attending all sessions and office hours, and willing to engage thoughtfully with the cohort and content will find the most value in the experience.

  • Participants can expect interactive, primarily virtual sessions led by expert facilitators who will share strategies, tools, and insights from their extensive experience. The sessions will focus on skill-building essential for leadership growth, including vision-building, curriculum evaluation, co-design, change management, and effective communication. Sessions will include practical application through hands-on practice and consultancies with fellow participants, as well as dedicated time for community building.

  • In addition to attending sessions, participants will have brief assignments after each session, most focused on how to apply the learnings from session to their own work via an action learning project. Participants will also be encouraged to  attend 30 minutes of office hours each month with our facilitators and experts to receive support based on their individual needs and context.

  • An application will be available starting in January 2025. Participants can either be nominated or directly apply. The process will consist of an application and interview with our team. Selected candidates will be invited to interview on a rolling basis starting in late January and we will notify all applicants of their status by early March 2025.​

  • Tuition for the initial 2025 cohort will be covered by our generous funders. This includes all costs for virtual sessions.