Over the past month, Innovate Public Schools joined numerous coalition letters and advocacy efforts focused on protecting education funding, student supports, and educator pipelines. These actions provide us with the opportunity to communicate directly with education decision-makers to ensure the needs of students and families, especially those most impacted by inequity, are at the center of their decisions.
At the local level, Innovate signed onto multiple coalition letters urging Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) leaders to protect equity-focused investments as the district navigates a significant budget deficit. These letters called district leaders to protect programs and funding streams that directly support students with the greatest needs, including the Student Equity Needs Index (SENI) and the Black Student Achievement Plan (BSAP). They also emphasized the importance of transparency, community engagement, and ensuring that budget decisions do not disproportionately impact high-need schools and communities. Read more about the LAUSD budget deficit here.
Innovate also joined statewide partners in advocating for a more equitable state budget. Through a coalition effort led by the Alliance for Students, we supported calls to fully fund the Proposition 98 guarantee, ensure a more equitable distribution of discretionary state funding, and increase investments in districts serving high-needs students. These efforts are rooted in a simple but urgent belief: state resources should be aligned with student needs, and public schools serving historically underserved communities must not be left behind.
Several of the letters Innovate signed onto focused on strengthening the educator and school leadership pipeline. We joined a coalition budget letter led by Edvoice which called for increased funding for the Golden State Teacher Grant Program and support for the Educator Pipeline Block Grant. We also supported advocacy to protect the Diverse Education Leaders Pipeline Initiative (DELPI), which helps expand pathways for leaders of color to become school administrators. These investments matter because students deserve educators and school leaders who are well-prepared, supported, and reflective of the communities they serve.
Our advocacy has also extended beyond traditional education policy when the issue directly impacts children and families. Innovate joined The Children’s Movement and hundreds of organizations in urging California leaders to ensure that children and youth are not left out of major housing investments. We know that housing, stability, and education are deeply connected. Students cannot thrive in school if their families are facing housing insecurity.
Signing onto coalition letters allows Innovate to stand with organizations, educators, advocates, and community leaders who are pushing for equitable systems across California. These letters connect deeply to our work on the ground: listening to families, elevating parent voice, sharing information, and advocating for high quality public schools.