LEAP Innovations adds 18 Chicago schools to Accelerator program

LEAP Innovations named 18 Chicago-area schools to its 2026-2027 Accelerator cohort, the long-running school improvement program formerly called the Pilot Network. The yearlong effort is designed to help school teams turn improvement plans into student-centered practices that can scale and stick.

Why it matters: - The Accelerator is built to help Chicago schools move from planning to classroom change. - Participating schools are working on student-centered learning, engagement and instructional improvement. - The program has served nearly 160 Chicago schools since 2014, giving it a long track record in the district. - LEAP says independent research has linked the program to stronger student engagement, deeper learning outcomes and greater teacher capacity to lead innovation.

What happened: - LEAP Innovations announced 18 schools for its 2026-2027 Accelerator cohort. - The program was formerly known as the Pilot Network. - LEAP renamed the program to reflect faster progress on teaching and learning goals, not a major change in programming. - The cohort includes returning schools and new partners. - The schools span elementary and secondary grades. - The schools include neighborhood, magnet and charter campuses across Chicago. - The first cohort meetings are scheduled for Sept. 17 and Sept. 24 at LEAP Innovation offices.

The details: - Each school formed a design team to participate in the yearlong program. - Each design team includes a school leader, two to four teachers and one additional staff member such as a counselor or instructional coach. - Teams will use design thinking and professional learning during the school year. - LEAP says the goal is to help educators lead instructional change that improves student learning and engagement, can be scaled and lasts. - The 18 schools are grouped into two cohorts to support peer learning and the development of best practices. - The schools will identify an opportunity of practice tied to school priorities, a Chicago Public Schools Continuous Improvement Work Plan or a School Improvement Plan. - LEAP will help teams design instructional prototypes, test what works and build scale plans. - Teams will also explore education technology partners and may pilot one of those tools or approaches during the program. - LEAP said the model is nationally recognized for helping schools design, test and scale student-centered learning strategies.

Between the lines: - The rename to Accelerator signals a branding shift toward speed and outcomes, even as the underlying program stays the same. - The program appears designed to give schools a structured way to turn existing improvement plans into classroom practices, which can be harder to execute than to write. - Returning schools suggest the support is sticky enough that some campuses want to keep using the model after an initial run. - The participation of Chicago Public Schools network leadership underscores that the program is closely tied to district improvement efforts. - Shenethe Parks, chief of schools for Network 12, said the approach gives Avalon Park Fine & Performing Arts School a chance to turn its priorities into practices that strengthen instruction, deepen engagement and improve outcomes. - Principal Yadira Guzmán said Whittier Dual Language Magnet School joined after seeing students take more ownership of learning in the prior year.

What's next: - Design teams will continue working through the school year on prototypes, peer learning and implementation planning. - LEAP and school teams will test instructional approaches and refine them based on evidence. - Some teams may pilot education technology tools or partner solutions during the program. - Schools will aim to scale practices that prove effective and sustain them beyond the yearlong accelerator.

The bottom line: - LEAP Innovations is using a familiar model with a new name to push more Chicago schools from improvement plans to measurable classroom change.