A new Innovation Lab program launched this summer as part of a partnership between the Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE) and the University of Southern California (USC) Edtech Accelerator, with the support of the Greater Los Angeles Education Foundation (GLAEF). The groundbreaking collaborative effort seeks to gather input from educators and staff on some of the most pressing challenges facing K-12 schools today in hopes of developing better solutions to those complex problems.

This summer, LACOE, USC and GLAEF brought together educators from across Los Angeles County for an Innovation Design Summit to listen to their concerns. The event, held at USC on August 2, 2024, gave educators an opportunity to share firsthand experiences and identify pain points that have long hindered their ability to effectively support students.

Instead of vendors selling solutions in a vacuum, the Innovation Lab Program prioritizes a collaborative model where schools drive the process. This approach ensures that technology solutions are carefully considered and strategically implemented to address the specific needs of schools and ultimately improve student outcomes.

Identifying specific challenges faced by school districts was the first step in the Innovation Lab Program. Next steps include:

• Solution Sourcing: Leveraging USC's network to discover potential technology solutions.

• Company Development: Providing selected tech companies with a curriculum to enhance their product efficacy and market readiness.

• Teacher Engagement: Involving teachers in the program to provide feedback on technology solutions.

• Evaluation and Dissemination: Assessing the effectiveness of the solutions and sharing findings to create a trusted vendor network.

By placing teachers at the forefront of the solution-finding process, The Innovation Lab Program aims to create tools that are not only effective but also truly meet the needs of those on the front lines.

This powerful partnership, with its innovative approach aims to transform how technology is integrated into education and enhance the learning experience for students.