Digital Promise
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| Digital Promise | |
|---|---|
| Name | Digital Promise |
| Formation | 2008 |
| Type | Nonprofit organization |
| Headquarters | Washington, D.C. |
| Leader title | CEO |
| Leader name | Susan R. Fuhrman |
| Website | Digital Promise |
Digital Promise is a nonprofit organization founded to accelerate innovation in learning technologies and to bridge research and practice in teaching and learning. It works with educators, researchers, technology developers, and policymakers to scale evidence-based tools and practices across K–12 schools and higher education institutions. The organization convenes stakeholders, runs research initiatives, and manages programs designed to improve outcomes through technology, assessment, and professional development.
History
Digital Promise was created following bipartisan legislative action in the United States that reflected priorities from discussions involving lawmakers in the United States Congress, education leaders from the U.S. Department of Education, and stakeholders from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Early initiatives drew on work from the Carnegie Corporation of New York, collaborations with the American Institutes for Research, and input from the Institute of Education Sciences. The organization’s formation occurred amid broader debates tied to the No Child Left Behind Act and subsequent policy shifts toward innovation inspired by voices in the K–12 community, the Harvard Graduate School of Education, and the Stanford Graduate School of Education.
Key milestones included partnerships that linked the organization with networks such as the Council of Chief State School Officers, startups connected to Silicon Valley accelerators, and research projects with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the University of California, Berkeley. Leadership transitions involved figures associated with the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and prominent educational researchers who had contributed to reports for the National Academy of Education and the National Science Foundation.
Mission and Programs
The organization’s mission centers on catalyzing innovation to improve learning outcomes by connecting classrooms with research, development, and practice. Programmatic work has spanned professional learning initiatives informed by scholars at the Teachers College, Columbia University, competency-based education pilots aligned with frameworks from the Council for Chief State School Officers (related bodies), and assessment innovations influenced by projects at the Educational Testing Service and the College Board.
Signature programs have linked educators to research through platforms that amplify findings from institutions like the Brookings Institution, the RAND Corporation, and the American Educational Research Association. Initiatives support practitioners by disseminating tools developed in laboratories at the University of Michigan, the University of Texas at Austin, and the University of Pennsylvania. Professional learning networks have included collaborations with district leaders from the Los Angeles Unified School District, New York City Department of Education, and state systems such as the California Department of Education.
Research and Initiatives
Research agendas have focused on learning engineering, digital equity, and evidence-based instructional design. Projects drew on methodologies advanced at the Carnegie Mellon University Human-Computer Interaction Institute, measurement innovations from the SRI International research group, and learning science frameworks promoted by researchers at the University of Chicago. Large-scale initiatives incorporated randomized and quasi-experimental designs used in studies at the What Works Clearinghouse and comparative frameworks similar to those used by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
Notable undertakings included efforts to map educational technology efficacy using taxonomies related to work from the International Society for Technology in Education and interoperability projects aligned with standards from IMS Global Learning Consortium and researchers at the MIT Media Lab. Equity-focused initiatives partnered with community-oriented organizations such as the Annie E. Casey Foundation and advocacy groups tied to the National Urban League.
Partnerships and Collaborations
The organization has pursued partnerships across the private, nonprofit, and academic sectors. Corporate collaborations involved technology firms with roots in Silicon Valley, partnerships with assessment providers like the Gates Foundation-supported projects, and engagements with philanthropic organizations including the Carnegie Corporation of New York and the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation. Academic collaborations spanned the Teachers College, Columbia University, the Harvard Graduate School of Education, and the University of California system.
Government and policy engagements included coordination with offices in the U.S. Department of Education, state agencies such as the Texas Education Agency, and membership in consortia that included the Council of Great City Schools. International linkages connected projects to networks associated with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and university partners in Europe and Asia.
Governance and Funding
Governance has featured a board composed of education leaders, researchers, and technology executives with prior affiliations to institutions like the Khan Academy, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and major research universities including Stanford University and Harvard University. Executive leadership has included individuals with backgrounds at the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the U.S. Department of Education.
Funding sources have combined philanthropic grants from foundations such as the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, corporate contributions from firms based in Silicon Valley, and project-specific contracts with agencies including the Institute of Education Sciences and state departments like the California Department of Education. Financial support has also come through collaborative grants with research organizations including the American Institutes for Research and SRI International.