Edtech Innovation Growing in the Garden State!

Each week, EdSurge highlights innovative school models, instructional products and the technologies that are making these practices possible. On May 12, we will be trying something new of our own: We are excited to announce a one-day Summit for School Innovation in partnership the New Jersey Department of Education's innovateNJ initiative, a statewide initiative that currently includes a community network of 37 innovative New Jersey districts selected from across the state that are designing and implementing new instructional models (see full list below).

This Summit is an expanded version of our “Education Leaders Day,” with participation by up to 150 leaders from across New Jersey and from the innovateNJ districts. Like all Summits, the focus is on interactive exchanges within and between districts and companies. Morning workshops focus on supporting more productive exchanges about the instructional priorities and technology needs of districts; and tools and guides for evaluating edtech products and determining fit within specific school contexts. Central office staff from all NJ districts are invited to attend and can RSVP here.

District leaders personalize their afternoon experiences: Attendees receive a custom schedule to meet with a subset of the featured companies that match their instructional priorities. And a select group of district leaders will guide discussions about their goals, opportunities and challenges as they continue to explore and innovate around instructional models.

“The innovateNJ community consists of innovative New Jersey educators committed to sharing programs, practices, and models that support next generation learning experiences for our students," notes Takecia Saylor, Director, School Innovation at State of New Jersey Department of Education. "The Summit creates an opportunity for New Jersey educators to share best practices, learn from each other, and be exposed to organizations that can help them scale effective school innovations.”

The innovateNJ Summit will be EdSurge’s tenth event since we launched our experimental event in Silicon Valley in November 2013. We are looking forward to welcoming these districts and a group of companies, whose selection will be made by district representatives. Want to be considered? Companies can learn more about participating in the innovateNJ Summit here.