Turning Leadership into Action Inside DLI 2025

2025 District Leadership Institute for Systeminc Change Convening in Washington, DC.

This fall, 44 district and school leaders came together in Washington, DC for the District Leadership Institute for Systemic Change, NCCEP’s premier leadership development program delivered in partnership with Inflexion. Designed for GEAR UP districts and schools, DLI gives leaders the space, tools, and strategies to step back, reflect, and think differently about how systems can better support students.

2025 was a standout year for DLI. The Institute welcomed its largest group of participants to date, introduced new instructors, and rolled out a refreshed experience all at once. Even with those changes, the response was clear and consistent. Participants found the experience valuable, practical, and immediately relevant to their work. Every participant agreed that DLI was a high quality leadership experience and that what they learned could be put into practice in their districts.

What made DLI especially meaningful was its focus on connecting school level efforts to district wide leadership and decision making. For many, the convening helped unlock new ways of thinking about their role and their impact. As one participant shared, DLI made it possible to envision district wide supports that simply were not visible before. Looking ahead, NCCEP and Inflexion will continue listening and learning from participants as they refine the DLI curriculum for 2026.

Interested in learning more or applying to the 2026 cohort? Applications are now open.