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Groundswell Network National Convening
Opportunity Schools in the Spotlight
May 13 - 14, 2026
What is the Groundswell Convening?
Groundswell Network is a national network of educators, community leaders, policy experts, advocates, and school partners working to make high-quality Opportunity Schools available in every community. Groundswell is a catalyst for the growth of Opportunity Schools, ensuring that the conditions for school and student success are in place. Through its Opportunity Schools Quality Framework, direct partnerships, convenings, and field-building work, Groundswell helps leaders create rigorous, supportive, and effective schools where young people can discover and live up to their abundant potential.
Groundswell Network’s National Convening is designed as a working gathering for leaders who are building, authorizing, funding, improving, and advocating for Opportunity Schools. The event is not only a convening; it is intended to connect promising school models with the policy, accountability, and community conditions needed for quality at scale.
What are Opportunity Schools?
Opportunity Schools are high-quality schools designed explicitly to bring opportunity to the students furthest from it, including young people who are overage and under-credited, disconnected from school, behind academically, system-involved, etc. Rather than a one-size-fits-all model, Opportunity Schools create structured, relationship-rich pathways to academic recovery, belonging, and long-term success.
For more information and context please read our blog: The Bipartisan Promise of Opportunity Schools and this article in Chalkbeat about how Tennessee lawmakers championed innovative “Opportunity Public Charter Schools” legislation in 2024.
Opportunity Schools at the Convening
Spotlight on transformational Opportunity Schools from across the country
BRAINATION (Texas), a charter management organization focused on increasing the capacity for learning by inspiring every student to belong, find joy, and be great.
Elevate Academy Network (Idaho), a network of year-round 6th-12th grade CTE schools where students work toward graduating with industry certification.
Kingsman Academy (Washington D.C.), a public charter school providing an individualized and rigorous education in a supportive environment to prepare scholars for post-secondary success and responsible citizenship.
Newark Opportunity Youth Network (New Jersey), a specialized high school for 16-21 year-olds with industry-recognized job training in construction, healthcare, and IT.
New Legacy Charter School (Colorado), a school tailored to the needs of pregnant/parenting teens.
See Forever Foundation/Maya Angelou Schools (Washington D.C.), charter school designed to engage and empower students - including opportunity and justice-involved youth - with a focus on a restorative, relevant school experience, personalized academic support, and preparation for post-secondary pathways, to transform the trajectory of their lives.
The Rock Academy (Tennessee), the state’s first Opportunity Public Charter School, created specifically to serve opportunity students in grades 9–12.
Urban Dove (New York), a sports-based youth development high school.
