What is the K12 Change Lab?
The K12 Change Lab is an 18-month, cohort-based change management program designed specifically for school teams. Launching its second cohort in April 2026, this initiative offers a unique blend of coaching, on-site visits, and a 3-day learning conference held in Washington, DC. It’s all about helping schools break free from the frustrating cycle of stalled change efforts and move boldly toward transformative goals. The program supports teams in identifying the right challenges, building diverse groups with the right skills and decision-making power, and then guiding them through a yearlong journey of designing, implementing, and iterating solutions. It’s a hands-on, deeply relational experience where learning happens not just from experts but also from peers facing similar challenges.
Main Benefits of the K12 Change Lab
Why does this program matter? Because making change in K12 schools has never been more important — and honestly, more complicated. Here’s a quick snapshot of what the K12 Change Lab brings to the table:
- Duration: 18 months of intensive, cohort-based support
- Team Size: 3-5 members per school team
- Cost: $15,000 per school, with grant funding available for public, charter, and smaller independent schools
- Capacity: Limited to 15 teams per cohort to ensure quality coaching
- Components: Coaching, on-site visits, and a 3-day learning conference in Washington, DC
- Focus: Breaking the cycle of unfulfilled change by turning bold ideas into lasting results
- Support: Data analysis, focus groups, and AI-assisted literature reviews to explore challenges deeply
The Challenge of Change in K12 Schools
Change in K12 schools is tricky. Schools often launch strategic plans packed with ambitious, transformative goals — but the reality? Less bandwidth than ever to actually push those goals forward. Daily pressures pile up, and when progress stalls, schools can get stuck in a frustrating loop: more time, more effort, same old conversations. This cycle drains momentum, wastes time and money, and can even erode community trust. The K12 Change Lab is designed to disrupt this pattern, giving schools the space and support they need to make change that sticks.
How the K12 Change Lab Works
The process kicks off by working closely with each school to develop a question worth exploring — something meaningful and actionable. Then, the program helps select the best possible team, emphasizing diversity in expertise, skills, and decision-making authority. Teams dive into their challenge through a mix of data, focus groups, and AI-assisted literature reviews. From there, it’s a yearlong journey: designing solutions, mobilizing community support, implementing approaches, and iterating based on continuous feedback. The commitment? To “coach teams to completion,” ensuring no one gets left hanging.
Building a Learning Community
One of the coolest parts? Each team becomes part of a cohort — a group of teams tackling similar challenges. This cohort model fosters a rich environment for sharing research, ideas, and learnings. Plus, each cohort is guided by an expert coach who specializes in the theme at hand. It’s not just about individual school success; it’s about collective growth and learning. After all, teachers and leaders learn best from each other.
Impact on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
- Quality Education (SDG 4): Enhancing learning environments and leadership capacity
- Reduced Inequalities (SDG 10): Supporting diverse teams and equitable change processes
- Partnerships for the Goals (SDG 17): Building collaborative networks among schools and communities
- Decent Work and Economic Growth (SDG 8): Empowering educators and leaders to innovate and lead
Origins and Broader Context
The K12 Change Lab is a non-profit initiative from the World Leadership Foundation, building on over a decade of experience with the K12 Purpose Summit. This summit has helped teams launch new middle schools, design advisory programs, and rethink learning through the lens of “thinking, feeling, and doing.” The Change Lab takes this work deeper with more intensive coaching, site visits, and a cohort-based learning model. It’s informed by listening to hundreds of leaders and teachers, making sure the program truly meets the needs of those on the front lines of education. With a B Corp score of 81.9, the initiative reflects a strong commitment to social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability. Keywords like world leadership, young people, youth empowerment, and education highlight its broad, inspiring reach across regions including Peru, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Belize, and the French Caribbean.
