Four organizations selected to deepen research and practice and strengthen outcomes for students with disabilities
New York City, NY – The Center for Learner Equity (CLE) announced today the four organizations selected for Cohort 2 of its NICE Community of Practice (CoP). The initiative is designed to build the capacity of regional special education support organizations to strengthen inclusive systems and accelerate outcomes for students with disabilities through research, shared learning, and leadership development.
CLE’s Network of Infrastructure & Collaborative Entities (NICE Network) and its Community of Practice model support member organizations in examining and strengthening the systems that drive impact for students with disabilities in charter and traditional district schools. Cohort 2 focuses on Research & Practice, equipping grantees to conduct structured needs assessments, build capacity, and develop case studies aligned with NICE’s mission to transform outcomes for students with disabilities.
“Improving outcomes for students with disabilities requires more than isolated programs—it requires disciplined inquiry into what works, why it works, and how it can be strengthened,” said Gretchen Stewart, CLE’s Senior Director of Educational Leadership. “Cohort 2 brings together organizations committed not only to serving all schools and students, but to studying their own impact and contributing shared learning to the broader field. That’s how we build systems that last.”
Through the year-long Community of Practice, each organization will:
- Conduct a comprehensive organizational needs assessment
- Engage in targeted capacity-building trainings
- Develop a case study documenting effective practices and lessons learned
Together, these activities strengthen both individual organizations and the collective impact of the NICE Network.
Cohort 2 Awardees
- Envision Learning Hub (St. Louis, MO) will study its university partnerships and related service provider pipeline to better understand how therapist preparation, training, and school-based service delivery function as an integrated system that supports inclusive practice and data-informed decision-making.
- True Measure Collaborative (Seattle, WA) will conduct a case study of its sustained school partnerships, examining how tailored professional development and systems-level support advance equitable access, student experience, and outcomes.
- The Collaborative for Exceptional Education (Denver, CO) will focus on strengthening Tier 1 mental health and social-emotional systems, exploring how schools move from screening to meaningful systems change that centers students with disabilities and historically marginalized communities.
- The Diverse Learners Cooperative (Nashville, TN) will examine its Learning Communities model in teacher workforce development and instructional coaching to strengthen implementation data, refine shared metrics, and support long-term scaling and impact.
By pairing rigorous case study development with collaborative learning and leadership development, Cohort 2 members will deepen their organizational capacity while contributing actionable knowledge to the broader field.
The NICE Network and Community of Practice reflect CLE’s commitment to strengthening both policy and practice—ensuring that inclusive, quality educational opportunity is not just a principle, but a measurable and sustainable reality for students with disabilities in schools across the country.
To learn more about the NICE Network, visit: https://www.centerforlearnerequity.org/what-we-do/nice-initiative/
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The Center for Learner Equity (CLE) is a national nonprofit advancing equitable access to high-quality public school choices for students with disabilities. Since 2013, CLE has helped remove systematic barriers that exclude students with disabilities from high-quality learning opportunities and expanded access to choices and robust supports. As a leading voice in policy, implementation, research, and advocacy, CLE challenges the status quo by building the capacity of leaders, practitioners, and advocates, driving collaboration, and informing policy and practice to improve access and outcomes for all students with disabilities. To learn more, visit https://www.centerforlearnerequity.org/.
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