What is Students for Innovation: Advocacy Day?

Illinois educators and students are doing amazing, innovative things in the classroom every single day. At IDEA, our hope is to give these students and educators a platform to exemplify the importance of this innovative learning.

Each spring, IDEA hosts districts from all across Illinois at the State Capitol in Springfield for our Students for Innovation: Advocacy Day.  Students are selected through an application process to present their projects at this annual one-day event.

Our hope is to provide a platform to demonstrate the importance of innovative learning to our state legislators in order to continue and/or improve funding for innovation in Illinois classrooms.

To amplify student voices by demonstrating innovative learning occurring in Illinois schools. These demonstrations will inspire legislatures and key stakeholders and highlight the importance of funding innovative practices that will drive life-long learning for both students and educators. Innovation takes funding, and is a critical component to our future.

We had around 200 students from across Illinois join us in the Rotunda of the Illinois State Capitol Building on May 9 to demonstrate innovation in the classroom.

*Due to renovations happening at the Capitol Building, the number of accepted districts had to be greatly decreased.

After a three year hiatus, IDEA was able to return to Springfield on May 10 for the Students for Innovation: Advocacy Day 2023.

We had around 200 students from across Illinois join us in the Rotunda of the Illinois State Capitol Building to demonstrate innovation in the classroom.

*Due to renovations happening at the Capitol Building, the number of accepted districts had to be greatly decreased.

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Over 400 students and teachers from 115 schools in Illinois gathered on May 7 for TECH 2019.

The event started with opening remarks by Representative Unes supporting technology’s role in transforming education, preparing students for college and careers, and addressing equity gaps across Illinois. Lori Sorenson, Chief Technology Officer for DoIT echoed his sentiment during our TECH Talk assembly that was held in the Howlett Auditorium between sessions. Ms. Sorenson was followed by our featured student/faculty speakers: Nate Butkus, Mr. Steve Douglass, and Mitchell Brown with Scotty Vrablik. These young innovators certainly inspired our students with their entrepreneurial spirit in taking what they learned in the classroom to influence change outside the classroom.

More than 400 students and teachers from over 100 Illinois schools shared examples and stories of innovative uses of technology and digital learning during TECH 2018.

On May 10th, Governor Rauner, Kirk Lonbom, Secretary for DoIT, Senator Cunningham, and Representative Unes shared opening remarks in support of technology’s role in transforming education, preparing students for college and careers, and addressing equity gaps across Illinois.

The true highlight of the day was the students who engaged their elected officials, inviting them to see meaningful learning through a student’s perspective.