Professional Learning Institutes are low-cost, week-long, immersive, place-based learning experiences that support educators’ capacities to implement social justice education in their practice.
Learning for Justice will host the 2023 Professional Learning Institutes in Jackson, Mississippi and Montgomery, Alabama. These opportunities are designed to help every educator push back against the status quo and reimagine what’s possible for students, schools and communities in our diverse democracy.
Critical Practices Professional Learning Institute
Jackson, Mississippi
June 26 - 30, 2023
- Content area focus: Critical Practices for Social Justice Education
- What educators can expect:
- Educators will engage deeply with the four pillars of Critical Practices for Social Justice Education (Curriculum & Instruction, Culture & Climate, Family & Community Engagement, and Leadership) and develop plans to implement these practices in their contexts.
- Educators will experience and contextualize liberatory learning models.
- Educators will participate in a reflective community space as they prepare to apply principles of social justice education in their practice, including planning to apply similar practices for developing inclusive learning spaces in their own contexts.
- Who can apply: The Critical Practices Professional Learning Institute is open to educators in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana and Mississippi.
Teaching Hard History: American Slavery Professional Learning Institute
Montgomery, Alabama
July 17- 21, 2023
- Content area focus: Teaching Hard History: American Slavery
- What educators can expect:
- Educators will engage deeply with the Teaching Hard History: American Slavery framework and accompanying resources to grow their ability to accurately teach the impact and legacy of American slavery.
- Educators will experience multiple methods of instruction, including how other organizations use the power of place, to increase knowledge and skill in effective practices in teaching American slavery.
- Educators will participate in a reflective community space as they prepare to apply principles of social justice education in their practice, including planning to apply similar practices for developing inclusive learning spaces in their own contexts.
- Who can apply: The Teaching Hard History Professional Learning Institute is open to educators across the United States, with preference given to those who teach in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana and Mississippi.
Please see the syllabus below for further details such as dates, responsibilities and time commitments.
Application Process Overview
- March 13 - April 16, 2023: Application window is open
- May 5, 2023: Applicants will be notified of their status:
- Accepted into a 2023 Professional Learning Institute
- Wait-listed for a 2023 Professional Learning Institute
- Not accepted into a 2023 Professional Learning Institute
Optional Informational Call
- Interested applicants are highly encouraged to view a recording of an informational call about the Professional Learning Institutes. To view the recording, please reach out to lfjpd@splcenter.org.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many people will be accepted into a Professional Learning Institute?
- Each Professional Learning Institute has spots for 25 educators.
When will I be traveling to the Professional Learning Institutes?
- Participants should plan to arrive the day before their Professional Learning Institute begins and to leave the day after it ends. Those with shorter travel may choose to leave the evening of the final day.
What are the costs of the Professional Learning Institutes?
- Participants will be responsible for their travel (flight, train, gas, etc.) to and from the Institutes.
- Learning for Justice will pay for all lodging, food, and learning experiences during the Professional Learning Institute.
- Critical Practices Professional Learning Institute: Meals will be provided from breakfast on Monday through dinner on Friday.
- Teaching Hard History Professional Learning Institute: Meals will be provided from breakfast on Monday through lunch on Friday.
- Learning for Justice aims to provide low-cost, accessible learning experiences for everyone. If you are interested in joining a Professional Learning Institute but are worried about transportation costs, we still encourage you to apply — financial assistance may be available upon request.
- Learning for Justice aims to make travel accessible and will work with participants to accommodate special requests whenever possible.
What accessibility features are available to participants?
- Learning for Justice aims to make learning as accessible as possible and will provide accommodations like ASL interpretation and screen readers upon request.
What sorts of “educators” are eligible to apply?
- K-12 classroom teachers
- Pre-service educators
- School and district staff
- Museum, community organization and non-profit educators
Will there be pre-work?
- Participants will be required to engage in pre-work before the Professional Learning Institutes in order to make the most of their in-person learning. Pre-work will be released in advance and should take no more than five hours to complete.
What COVID-19 precautions will be taken?
- Please expect to abide by the following protocols when you are in the Institute’s main classroom:
- Everyone is strongly encouraged to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
- Masks are optional.
- Everyone attending must take a provided rapid COVID-19 test on-site upon arrival on the first day. Anyone who tests positive will be required to leave. There will be no refund for any personal costs incurred.
- Anyone experiencing cold or flu-like symptoms – cough, fever, chills, runny nose, etc. – is asked not to attend.
- Community partners and other sites will have varying protocols; please be prepared to follow their guidance. Learning for Justice will communicate these expectations no later than one month before the Institute.
- Learning for Justice will provide a rapid test upon your arrival at the Institute, but we encourage you to test before you travel. If needed, Learning for Justice will send a test for you.