Creating a clearer pathway from local innovation to statewide learning by surfacing,
vetting, and scaling promising practices across North Carolina public schools.
The Innovation Leadership Council (ILC) is designed to create a clearer pathway from local innovation to
statewide learning. Rather than leaving strong practices isolated in individual schools or districts, the
ILC will surface innovative practices, vet them against shared criteria, and help educators learn across
public school models and regions. Ultimately, the goal of the ILC is to create stronger connections
across North Carolina’s public education community while elevating practices that can benefit
students in varied contexts.
The ILC directly responds to North Carolina’s Achieving Educational Excellence Strategic Plan,
which calls for the use of research, development, networks, and integrated systems to advance
educational excellence. Under Pillar 6, the plan calls for the creation of a cross-sector Innovation
Leadership Council, a structured innovation process, and an annual collection of effective practices. The
same pillar emphasizes that innovation should connect traditional public schools, charter schools, and
lab schools while making promising practices more visible and scalable across contexts.
Council Goal & Objectives
Identify, elevate, and help scale what works
The ILC brings together leaders from districts, charter schools, lab schools, higher
education, and NCDPI to help surface what is working, strengthen cross-sector learning, and accelerate
progress across the state's strategic priorities.
1
Improve identification & vetting
Use a transparent framework, common submission process, and shared review criteria grounded in evidence,
equity, and scalability.
2
Strengthen cross-sector learning
Bring together district, charter, and lab school leaders to share practices and support transfer across
contexts.
3
Spread effective practices
Share stories of impact through an annual compendium, communications assets, and Celebrate the Good.
4
Support replication & scale
Use statewide and regional education networks, convenings, and implementation-ready resources.
5
Inform policy & implementation
Provide recommendations and cross-cutting insights to NCDPI's Executive Leadership Team (ELT).
Annual Innovation Cycle
Five connected phases
The ILC follows an annual cycle to identify, review, elevate, and share evidence-based
innovative practices — from setting priorities and launching the statewide call, to reviewing
submissions, developing recommendations, and sharing selected practices through statewide learning and the
annual innovation compendium.
1. Kick-off Retreat & PlanningSet annual themes,
priority focus areas, and refine the submission process and rubric.
2. Statewide Call (Winter)Support outreach and encourage
submissions from districts, charter, and lab schools.
3. Review & Recommendations (Spring)Score submissions
and recommend practices for statewide visibility.
4. Sharing & Statewide Learning (Summer)Shape case
summaries and stories that elevate selected practices.
5. Convening Support & Compendium (Fall)Highlight
practices through convenings and the Annual Innovation Compendium.
Council Membership
Who serves on the Council
The inaugural Council brings together educators and leaders from across North
Carolina's regions, public school models, and professional roles. Members contribute practical experience,
evidence expertise, and perspectives from varied local contexts.
Who Members Represent
School-based leaders: principals, assistant principals, instructional coaches, and
teacher leaders with expertise in implementation and student support.
District leaders: superintendents, accountability leaders, and central office
administrators with expertise in systems change and policy alignment.
Charter, regional, and lab school leaders: school leaders with expertise in school
design, implementation, and cross-sector learning.
Higher education & research partners: faculty, researchers, and evaluators with
expertise in evidence use and implementation support.
What Members Do
Help shape annual focus areas aligned with the NC Strategic Plan.
Surface innovative practices from a range of school and district contexts.
Review submissions using a shared rubric and common criteria.
Advise on evidence, equity, and scalability.
Contribute to statewide learning through the compendium, convenings, and communications.
Meet the 2026-27 Innovation Leadership Council
Twenty-five inaugural members represent all eight State Board of Education regions and a range of
roles, school models, and professional perspectives.
The roadmap shows how the ILC is moving from initial design and launch to a repeatable
statewide process for identifying, sharing, and scaling promising practices.
2026Current
Design & Launch the ILC
Finalize the charter and governance, recruit and onboard members, host the kickoff retreat, and prepare
the first statewide call.
2027
First Full Innovation Cycle
Launch the statewide call, review and select the first cohort of practices, and publish the 2027 Annual
Compendium.
2028
Refine, Scale & Sustain
Run a second statewide call with emphasis on replication, and develop recommendations for sustaining the
ILC and compendium cycle.
