Future Ready Schools®

Advancing Innovation and Equity in America’s Schools

Future Ready Schools® (FRS) helps innovative educators ensure that each student graduates from high school with the agency, passion, and skills to be a productive, compassionate, and responsible citizen.

Through FRS’s tools and resources, district and school leaders apply evidence-based practices resulting in engaging student-centered learning environments that empower robust learning opportunities, anytime, anywhere.

The FRS network focuses on leadership. We help district teams set a vision for the student outcomes and school experiences that today’s modern learners need to thrive. We emphasize goal setting using our research-based framework that advances policies to equitably deliver strong instruction, personalized professional learning, and creative community partnerships. Coupled with robust technology infrastructure and sustainability models – we build leadership capacity so that  school systems can offer flexible, rigorous, and equitable learning opportunities to each student.

Join Us In Making a Difference

Now, more than ever, the nation’s schools face high demands to prepare students for an information-rich, high-tech, entrepreneurial, global economy that requires a highly skilled, knowledgeable, flexible, and capable workforce. FRS provides educators with research-based tools, resources, and capacity building that facilitates the modernization of schools and districts that support personalized, student-centered learning. 

Consider Investing in Future Ready Schools Today!

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The FRS Way

We believe every child—regardless of the zip code they call home—must graduate from high school and deserves

  • a personalized and robust student-centered learning environment where students learn in and out of traditional school settings;
  • learning experiences that prepare students for an increasingly technology-driven workforce and world;
  • work-based opportunities that tap into passions, purpose, and interests for deeper engagement and multiple pathways to success in life;
  • innovative research-based instructional strategies facilitated by caring and qualified teachers; and
  • a clear exploration of options through which every child achieves postsecondary success.

We are Future Ready!

Why Our Work Matters

Nearly 17 million of America’s 53.1 million children are unplugged from instruction because their families lack home internet access. This “homework gap,” has contributed to significant opportunity gaps, particularly for students from marginalized communities. Beginning in spring 2020, many districts tapped federal, state, and local funding to provide all students with the connectivity and devices necessary for home-based remote learning. Now, the Rescue Plan Act of 2021 and subsequent federal investments provide ample opportunities for education leaders to close opportunity gaps and realize the promise of technology for America’s public school students. FRS can help ensure that this investment is not squandered.

Now, more than ever, the nation’s schools face high demands to prepare students for an information-rich, high-tech, entrepreneurial, global economy that requires a highly skilled, knowledgeable, flexible, and capable workforce. Today, 80 percent of good-paying jobs require postsecondary education, according to Georgetown University’s Center on Education and the Workforce.

However, in 2017, fewer than 50 percent of Americans ages 25–64 years held a quality credential beyond high school, according to the Lumina Foundation. The statistics are even more alarming for Americans from historically underserved groups; only about 24 percent of Latinos and about 30 percent of African Americans held an associate’s degree or higher in 2017.

This is a momentous time for education. Closing the digital divide and the homework gap remains one of America’s most consequential challenges. The need to systemically address opportunity gaps resulting from our students’ lack of ubiquitous technology access and devices—at home and school—is now an urgent economic, social, and moral imperative for our nation’s future success.

Tools and Resources

FRS provides educators with research-based tools and resources that facilitate the modernization of schools and districts that support personalized, student-centered learning. FRS tools and resources include the following:

  • Research-based framework that allows for digital learning visioning, planning, and implementation
  • Five-step planning process for district digital transition
  • School leadership strands (district leaders, principals, technology leaders, instructional coaches, school boards, and librarians)
  • Personalized professional learning webinars; blog posts; national institutes and specialized workshops (online and in person); and other resources
  • FRS District Pledge for superintendents

All tools and resources are aligned with the evidence-based Future Ready Framework and focus on instructional leadership and systemic reform.

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Our Work

FRS’s tools and resources help support district and school leaders with the modernization of schools and the implementation of personalized, student-centered learning.

February 13, 2025

Podcast | Collaborative Leadership, Community Partnership, Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment, Future Ready Schools, Professional Learning, Robust Infrastructure, Use of Space and Time

Lead Humbly and Stay Connected (with Dr. Erik Gundersen)

In the final episode of Season 6 of Leading Through Unprecedented Times, Nicki Slaugh and Eric Sheninger discuss strategies for personalizing education to better meet the needs of each learner. The guests dive deep into the importance of a dynamic partnership between teachers and students, where learning is tailored to each student’s strengths, interests, and needs.
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February 6, 2025

Podcast | Collaborative Leadership, Community Partnership, Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment, Future Ready Schools, Professional Learning, Robust Infrastructure, Use of Space and Time

The Science of Hope (with Meghan Lawson)

In the final episode of Season 6 of Leading Through Unprecedented Times, Nicki Slaugh and Eric Sheninger discuss strategies for personalizing education to better meet the needs of each learner. The guests dive deep into the importance of a dynamic partnership between teachers and students, where learning is tailored to each student’s strengths, interests, and needs.
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January 30, 2025

Podcast | Collaborative Leadership, Community Partnership, Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment, Future Ready Schools, Professional Learning, Robust Infrastructure, Use of Space and Time

Navigating Artificial Intelligence in Education (with Ken Shelton)

In the final episode of Season 6 of Leading Through Unprecedented Times, Nicki Slaugh and Eric Sheninger discuss strategies for personalizing education to better meet the needs of each learner. The guests dive deep into the importance of a dynamic partnership between teachers and students, where learning is tailored to each student’s strengths, interests, and needs.
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January 23, 2025

Podcast | Collaborative Leadership, Community Partnership, Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment, Future Ready Schools, Professional Learning, Robust Infrastructure, Use of Space and Time

Encouraging Students to Stay True to Themselves (with Hamish Brewer)

In the final episode of Season 6 of Leading Through Unprecedented Times, Nicki Slaugh and Eric Sheninger discuss strategies for personalizing education to better meet the needs of each learner. The guests dive deep into the importance of a dynamic partnership between teachers and students, where learning is tailored to each student’s strengths, interests, and needs.
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January 16, 2025

Podcast | Collaborative Leadership, Community Partnership, Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment, Future Ready Schools, Professional Learning, Robust Infrastructure, Use of Space and Time

Changing the World One Student at a Time (with Dr. Rachel Edoho-Eket)

In the final episode of Season 6 of Leading Through Unprecedented Times, Nicki Slaugh and Eric Sheninger discuss strategies for personalizing education to better meet the needs of each learner. The guests dive deep into the importance of a dynamic partnership between teachers and students, where learning is tailored to each student’s strengths, interests, and needs.
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January 9, 2025

Podcast | Collaborative Leadership, Community Partnership, Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment, Future Ready Schools, Professional Learning, Robust Infrastructure, Use of Space and Time

Spreading Hope (with Dr. Randy Watson)

In the final episode of Season 6 of Leading Through Unprecedented Times, Nicki Slaugh and Eric Sheninger discuss strategies for personalizing education to better meet the needs of each learner. The guests dive deep into the importance of a dynamic partnership between teachers and students, where learning is tailored to each student’s strengths, interests, and needs.
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Digital Learning, Future Ready Schools

Digital Learning Day: February 13, 2025 TEST

Sharing the Love of Learning, Teaching, and Innovation This year’s Digital Learning Day (DLDay), we’re focusing on how technology connects us, transforms education, and…
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Future Ready Schools

Protected: Future Ready Schools® Professional Services

Future Ready Schools® (FRS) provides school and district leaders with the skills and strategies needed to drive innovation, inspire change, and create equitable learning…
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January 17, 2024

Blog | Future Ready Schools, Professional Learning

Northampton Area School District IgNite Passion Through Professional Learning

In our blog, we have the privilege of delving into the remarkable achievements of the Northampton Area School District (PA). Join us as we explore their incredible success story in creating personalized professional learning experiences for teachers. By doing so, they are not just preparing their students for the future; they are molding it
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