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AGILE Network
Tap into the power of technology to help you meet your school community’s goals.
What is the American group of innovative learning environments (AGILE) Network?
The AGILE Network is an exclusive group of innovative and diverse school districts, charter schools, learning environments, and educators across the country. Members of the network are on the cutting edge of research and development, conducting research in collaboration with new and growing edtech companies that seek to solve real problems in their classrooms, directly contributing to the development of evidence-based learning solutions.
In addition to research compensation and unrestricted grants, members receive professional development and transferable skills around innovation methods, participatory action research, and equity-centered research.
Members of the elite network learn from forward-thinking education leaders and share insights from pilots and evaluations at convenings.
You have two ways to join…
As a school Community
Apply to join the AGILE Network as a school district, charter school, or learning environment and try out emerging solutions that meet your community’s needs.
As an individual
Get compensated $50 an hour to give feedback on emerging edtech tools via surveys and/or focus groups as a member of the Codesign Collective.
partner perspective
Learn about Leanlab’s research partnerships with school districts in this introductory video with former Superintendent of North Kansas City Public Schools Dr. Dan Clemens, strategic collaborator ERDI, and Leanlab CEO & Founder Katie Boody Adorno.
Try it.
For edtech products that are early in their development, we might ask for 90 minutes of educator time to give first impressions of a product to help a company build a better product from the ground up.
Use it.
For edtech products that are further along in development, educators work with a company for 1-2 months to learn about how it works in the day-to-day realities of the classroom, in order to help make the product more usable and engaging.
Study it.
For longer-term research projects, schools or districts are paired with an edtech company to study how the product impacts student and teacher outcomes over the course of a semester or longer.
AGILE Network members
“I appreciated seeing how students have used the new technology, the collaboration with the platform developer, and the ongoing support that Leanlab has provided to make the process as meaningful to our community as possible. It has been a catalyst for growth in many ways at our school.”
-Evan Linville, Counselor at Gordon Parks Elementary School
More network benefits!
Learning Community
Network members learn from other education leaders conducting research and collaborate to share best practices and vetted, innovative solutions.
Exclusive Access
From webinars to in-person events at popular conferences, our goal is to bring together innovation leaders and provide you with helpful resources and an influential network of peers, policy makers, and funders.
Research Stipends and Grants
Upon joining the AGILE Network, members receive an unrestricted grant. Members also receive $2,000 - $100,000 for involvement in R&D. This amount is dependent on the type of study and the time commitment.
Edtech Expertise
The world of edtech can sometimes feel daunting but we’ve been studying it for years and we’ve learned a thing or two. We’re here to help you navigate the complex landscape.
Network Newsletter
Stay up-to-date on the latest news in the education world with a bi-weekly newsletter focused on edtech and innovation delivered directly to your inbox.
Shareable Badges
After a school or district completes their first research study, they will receive a shareable badge indicating a commitment to research-based practices and innovation.
Network Commitments
When selected for the AGILE Network, we ask members to be available to test and/or pilot new education solutions. After you join, we’ll get to know the learning community’s challenges and, using that information, we’ll match you with an education company working to solve that problem.
If, at any time, the opportunity is not of interest, you can decline participation and remain open to future opportunities. All participants are directly compensated for their time.
More questions about The Network?
Still have a few questions about the AGILE Network? Drop us a line and we’ll get back to you ASAP!
General FAQs
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Any PreK-12 school district, charter school, or learning environment is eligible for the AGILE Network, though applications from historically marginalized communities may be prioritized. Learning environments may inquire about joining at any time. Individuals interested in joining are invited to join the Codesign Collective, a network for individual educators.
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When a relevant research opportunity becomes available, Leanlab will reach out to school administrators in the AGILE Network to see if their school or district is able to participate. If so, teacher participants receive individual stipends that range from $25-500 depending on the scope of the research study. The school district receives an unrestricted grant that ranges from $2,000-$100,000 depending on the scope of the study.
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Yes, individuals are invited to join our individual educator network, the Codesign Collective! There are many research opportunities that become available that are meant for just one or two teachers in the school building, and Leanlab will reach out to teachers and administrators in the Codesign Collective when such opportunities arise. However, when the research study involves classroom implementation and/or use with students, Leanlab will require buy-in from leadership who will need to sign an MOU (see more on this below) to ensure data privacy protections for students.
As an individual, you’ll also enjoy all the other benefits of being in the Codesign Collective, from special events to professional development to our newsletter and online community.
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Codesign Product Research is what we call the type of research we conduct. Codesign is based on the simple idea that the "end-users" (students, teachers, parents) in education are the people with the expertise necessary to improve research design and education products.
When we codesign, we engage in a collaborative process that unites critical insights from school communities with the expertise of researchers and product developers. The end result is that we make better products for school communities.
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The research implementation period is dependent on the type of research. Studies can last anywhere from six weeks to one year.
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Time required is highly dependent on the type of research and the study design. We can help you find the right type of study to implement in your district or even with individual teachers based on your school's capacity.
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The number of teachers, classrooms, students, and/or parents needed to participate in the pilot study will vary depending on the methodology established together. The most common scenario requires 5-10 teachers or support staff from one school implementing the edtech tool with students in their classrooms.
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Upon joining the AGILE Network, members receive an unrestricted $4,500 grant following execution of a Memorandum of Understanding.
Further grant money is dependent on the study scope and the involvement we'll need from your school participants. We provide direct stipends to teachers and school grants up to $100K. Grant money is given on an unrestricted basis.
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AGILE Network learning environments will sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Leanlab that signals their intent to follow the steps and commit to the engagement requirements of the network. This MOU will be co-created by Leanlab and your school and will outline specific requirements.
Some studies will require a data-sharing agreement. Once a research study is completed and all requirements outlined in the MOU are met, Leanlab will send payment directly to the school or district representative.