Accelerate Institute

Accelerate Institute Intended Impact and Theory of ChangeAll K-12 students will have equal access to high-quality education and be on grade levelEffective Implementation of Data SystemsLeadership DevelopmentInfluence Through Thought Leadership Accelerate Institute is disrupting the status quo by training school leaders to systemically transform schools into healthy, safe environments that are culturally relevant and centered on student learning outcomes—and giving every child a chance. We develop urban K-12 school principals and leadership team members to become high-impact educators so they can deliver the equitable education our nation’s underserved youth deserve. Read our equity stance. Explore our story. LEADERSHIP ACADEMY Developing school leadership teams to close the achievement gapProvides practical day-to-day strategies to improve leadership practice in schools for principals, assistant principals, deans, and other leadership team members in order to improve teachers’ instructional practice and positively impact academic outcomes. LEARN MORE GROWTH ACCELERATOR Accelerating the growth of schools through leadership and systems developmentDesigned to train school principals and their leadership teams in high-output management strategies and tactics to accelerate the academic achievement of underperforming schools. LEARN MORE RESOURCE CENTER Whether you’re a principal looking to explore the ways other principals have closed the achievement gap, or a supporter who wants to see how the Accelerate Framework works, it’s all in here. RESOURCE CENTER CURRENT EVENTS News, events and things going on at Accelerate InstituteFrom fundraising events to job postings, personal achievements to news about results, you can always catch up on the latest happenings here. Browse the images below to explore. Finding Our True North Amid the ChaosTransformational LeadershipFinding Our True North Amid the ChaosSeptember 5, 2025Transformational LeadershipBy Dr. Catherine Burns, President & Chief Academic Officer, Accelerate Institute Every August, we choose a rally cry to guide our work at Accelerate Institute. For the 2025–26 school year, our rally cry is: Finding Your True North. For us, True North is the compass every school leader needs: the values, vision, and moral clarity […]Read More K-12 Schools Are in Crisis: Learn How to Increase Academic Results FasterAccelerate Institute NewsK-12 Schools Are in Crisis: Learn How to Increase Academic Results FasterJanuary 22, 2025Accelerate Institute NewsBy Dr. Catherine Burns, Chief Academic Officer As the President of Accelerate Institute and a committed educator for over 25 years, I have witnessed the challenges facing K-12 education intensify year after year. Today, the data paints a stark picture: 44% of public school students began the 2023-2024 academic year behind grade level in at […]Read More Grow and Retain Great Leaders: The Key to Thriving SchoolsUncategorizedGrow and Retain Great Leaders: The Key to Thriving SchoolsNovember 11, 2024UncategorizedAs a school system leader, your most valuable resource is your people. But is school leader burnout impacting your students’ success? The challenges facing K-12 education are more pressing than ever—and building the right team is critical to overcoming them. Take this 5-minute quiz to discover how cultivating talent can help build a resilient and […]Read More