2026-27 UMD School Improvement Network

The School Improvement Network is the premier collaborative learning and improvement network for Maryland and DMV school district leaders, where educators gain practical tools, a trusted community, and research-informed strategies to address real challenges in schools and systems.

Would you like to learn more about the 2026-27 School Improvement Network?

Let's Connect!

Connect With Our Team

“The Network was a primary source of professional development and engagement for my entire school leadership team. The CEii team and UMD faculty offered useful and relevant information.” - Principal

“Price-wise I think what we're getting is a great deal” - Principal

“I truly believe the problem of practice was very helpful in our school. We were able to actually implement that into professional development with the school, and it was very eye-opening to be able to see what was the problem of practice, and have the teachers really focus…” -Teacher Leader

“Webinars were amazing…The topic each day and the experts you guys brought in was super helpful, and it really caused me to do a lot of thinking…Some of the areas I knew pretty well already, but the speakers gave me a different perspective that I was able to think about, so those were amazing…That was my favorite part.” - Principal

Network Learning Series & Affinity Communities

Monthly 90-minute webinars are offered in alignment with member interests and Problems of Practice across Network membership. Webinars will introduce members to resources, research, and best practices from the field on a range of instructional and systemic issues. Each webinar will be followed by facilitated affinity groups to give educators opportunities to process information, engage with one another, and share challenges, successes, and ideas. Some webinar topics will be followed by more in-depth workshops (see below). Webinars will be recorded for asynchronous viewing for members.

2026-27 Webinar Dates


Webinar Dates All Webinars will be from 4:30pm - 6:00pm EST.	Webinar Topics (subject to change based on member feedback and interests)
Wednesday, 9/23/26	Understanding the principles of Improvement Science
Tuesday, 10/20/26	Equity and Leadership to advance student learning
Wednesday, 11/18/26	Student Engagement and Attendance
Tuesday, 12/15/26	Fostering Student (and Educator) Wholeness and Wellness
Wednesday, 1/20/27	Supporting Students with Disabilities in Every Classroom
Wednesday, 2/17/27	Using and Designing High-Quality Instructional Materials (HQIM)
Tuesday, 3/16/27	Creating Thriving Spaces for Black Boys
Wednesday, 4/14/27	Supporting and Engaging Immigrant Students
Tuesday, 5/11/27	Improving Mathematics Instructions for Students with Disabilities

Leadership in Practice Labs

CEii offers quarterly in-person half-day workshops, designed exclusively for Network members and hosted at UMD's Anacostia conference center. These workshops are facilitated by UMD faculty (or other experts from the field) and are designed to explore more deeply the topics, issues, and challenges most important to members. Workshop topics are based on surveys and feedback from members and the topics below may be modified based on the identified interests of 2026 Network members. Space is limited to the first 50 registrants to ensure meaningful engagement.


Workshop Dates	Workshop Topics
Tuesday, 9/15/26	Advancing Improvement Science Strategies: Collaborative Inquiry, Improvement Measures & Progress Monitoring
Wednesday, 12/2/26	Student Engagement & Attendance
Wednesday, 2/17/27	Instructional Leadership to Support Students with Disabilities
Monday, 4/26/27	TBD

Membership Options

Choose the membership model that best fits your team, structure, and leadership goals.


Individual	School Membership	Central Office	District Membership
$500	$2,000	$400/member	$300/member
For Individual Leaders seeking growth and connection	Recommended for schools - Up to 5 Leaders $400 for each additional member	Minimum 5 members - For District office Teams	Scaled by District Office size
Learning Series Affinity Groups Resources	Designed for school-based leadership teams	Supports cross-functional learning	Small: 20 Members Medium: 50 Members Large: 100 Members
	Team Participation Shared Implementation School-Wide Alignment	Shared Leadership Development Strategic Alignment	Best for system-wide engagement and aligned improvement efforts

_{Returning members from the 2025-26 Network are eligible for a 50% renewal rate.}

Center for Educational Innovation and Improvement (CEii)