Stand Together Announces Khan Lab School as First of Many Innovative Education Models to Co-Share Space in Learning Lab Wichita, Launching August 2023
Learning Lab responds to community input for increased individualized education options
Wichita, KS – Stand Together and Learning Lab Wichita announced Khan Lab School as its first partner to join their ecosystem for education entrepreneurship, empowering education innovators to collaborate and grow individualized learning concepts for local students. Led by renowned educator Sal Khan, founder of Khan Academy and Schoolhouse.world, this is Khan Lab School’s first expansion outside of California.
“We’re looking forward to partnering with the community in Wichita to explore education innovation in a new setting,” said Khan Lab School founder Sal Khan. “Khan Lab School has been a hub for innovation in teaching and learning for nearly a decade. We’re grateful for the partnership with the Stand Together community and the founding tenants of Learning Lab Wichita as we embark on this new collaboration together.”
The Stand Together community’s partnership with Khan Lab School and other education innovators responds to feedback from Wichita parents and families. In a recent survey, 60% of local families expressed interest in a new school concept and, of those parents, 65% were drawn to the opportunities for a personalized approach to learning where students build mastery of both content and skills. The Lab is passionate about elevating the transformational work of these student-driven models, so parents and families can access more options as unique as their learners.
“We are thrilled to support bringing Khan Lab School to our community,” said Kylie Stupka, Vice President of Strategic Partnerships for Stand Together. “Their model celebrates each student and ignites their love of learning by empowering them to own their educational experience. Learning Lab Wichita will be a nexus of education entrepreneurship where individualized school models are grown, educators collaborate, and students co-design their learning.”
This Lab’s vision is to be abuzz with education entrepreneurs working on new school concepts; micro schools prepping student-led seminars; education researchers observing and learning from innovative, student-driven learning; home school groups there for “a day at the Lab” engaging in a science experiment; community groups providing culinary, art, and technology programs for students; and teachers – public, private, charter, home school, and beyond – growing their craft through professional development. Just like children’s imaginations and interests, the offerings and experiences within the Lab will evolve.
The Stand Together community will continue to partner with local and national innovators like Khan Lab School, Schoolhouse.world, Academica, EMPOWERED, VELA, and many more with a proven track record in supporting individualized learning in Wichita. The Learning Lab ecosystem will continue to grow, informed by families and students’ unique individual needs.
The Lab will launch at 701 E Douglas in August 2023, while its permanent home at 703 E Douglas Avenue, inside historic Union Station, is under renovation and will open in the spring of 2024. This building once served as a landmark starting point for generations of travelers beginning their adventures—and it’s a symbolic launchpad for students starting their unique educational journey.
“Wichita is my home, and I am honored to support opening the doors of Learning Lab Wichita,” said Lydia Hampton, Operations Director of Learning Lab Wichita. “This kind of dynamic education ecosystem reflects how everyone has something to offer and learning happens all the time, everywhere. It will unlock imagination and ignite students’ passions and interests, developing critical thinkers and problem solvers. That’s an incredible win for the community as our kids grow up and head out into the next chapter of their learning journey.”
Hampton added, “I encourage the community to learn more about how to engage with Learning Lab Wichita. Whether you are a seasoned educator, an innovative administrator, an education entrepreneur, a homeschool pod looking for a spot to rent outside your home, a family with a student looking for a school option or enrichment program, or an interested community member, come learn more about what’s on the horizon.”
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About Stand Together
Stand Together is a philanthropic community that tackles the root causes of our country’s biggest problems. Alongside inspiring partners, we drive solutions on education, economic opportunity, health care, bridging partisan divides, and dozens of other pressing issues. We can all make a greater difference by uniting on areas of common ground than we can by acting on our own. Learn more at www.standtogether.org. Join us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube.
About Khan Lab School
Founded in 2014, Khan Lab School is a non-profit, mastery-based school located in the heart of Silicon Valley. Created by Sal Khan, the founder of Khan Academy and author of One World Schoolhouse, the school has served as a site of innovation for teaching and learning.
Our student-centered approach ignites students’ curiosity, promotes independent learners, and encourages students to pursue projects that align with their interests and ambitions. As a mastery-based school, we focus on the learning outcomes that matter most and evaluate student growth with meaningful metrics rather than traditional letter grades. khanlabschool.org