Welcome to Playground Post, a bi-weekly newsletter that keeps education innovators ahead of what’s next.

Here’s what we have on deck for today…

1. Better air systems boost student achievement

2. Students earn degrees at workplace campuses

3. Districts protect summer learning despite funding challenges

Education's Secret Innovation Lab Is Now Taking Listeners

Ever wondered how education breakthroughs are born? Pitch Playground podcast gives you the backstage pass.

Each week, you'll witness what happens when ambitious education entrepreneurs:

• Pitch their ideas for $50,000 prize

• Workshop their concepts through critical feedback

• Refine their solutions to education's most pressing challenges

It's the raw, unfiltered process of innovation that's normally hidden behind closed doors.

Peek behind the curtain → and hear education's next big idea before it makes headlines.

Better air systems boost student achievement

Schools that upgrade their heating and cooling systems see more than just better air.

New research shows these improvements lead to:

• 2% better attendance

• 7% fewer suspensions

• And 3-4% higher math scores.

"Investments made now to improve school HVAC systems can benefit student comfort and enhance educational opportunity," report researchers from SUNY Albany.

This research creates a new opportunity for innovators: marketing facility upgrades as academic interventions, not just building improvements.

Students earn degrees at workplace campuses

Toledo Public Schools is putting classrooms where the jobs are. Their programs place students directly at industry sites, including:

• An Aerospace Academy at the local airport

• An Electric Vehicle lab with six vehicle lifts

"If you connect a student to a career pathway, that's an increase in your graduation rate," says Superintendent Dr. Romules Durant.

This approach addresses a critical need: 90% of middle schoolers want more career exposure, and 60% doubt school prepares them for work.

This model demonstrates how immersive, workplace-based learning environments can transform both student outcomes and community partnerships.

Districts protect summer learning despite funding challenges

A new survey shows 8 in 10 superintendents plan to maintain or expand summer learning programs, with 73% saying academic skill improvement is the top benefit.

Districts face two key hurdles:

1. Parent work schedules don't align with program hours

2. Schools cannot meet the demand for instruction

"High-quality summer learning programs are not just enrichment, they are critical to student success," says Aaron Dworkin, CEO of the National Summer Learning Association.

For education innovators, this creates a clear opportunity to develop cost-effective solutions that offer schedule flexibility for working families while helping districts stretch their resources further.

If you enjoyed this edition of Playground Post, please share it with your friends!

We’ll be back with another edition on Friday. See you then!

To stay up-to-date on all things education innovation, visit us at playgroundpost.com.