The Social Studies Accelerator alongside our partner EdSolutions, launched a seven-month cohort-based learning and growth opportunity in 2023 for organizations providing culturally responsive curriculum, content, or professional development who are looking to expand their customer base. See below for more information about this learning lab, our past participants, and our 2024 cohort.

C2M2 Cohort participants will…

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    Learn about best practices, and relevant frameworks on high-quality social studies content and instructional materials rooted in culturally responsive pedagogy

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    Better understand the market ecosystem, including the role of policy, existing providers, procurement processes and the unique and varied roles of stakeholders

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    Learn how to communicate and message the importance of their content to school systems and educators

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    Identify their highest value target customers and appropriately position & price their products

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    Build go-to-market, sustainable growth, and funding plans that blend philanthropic and earned income funding sources, along with distribution partnerships that will enable you to make a lasting impact on preK-12 students

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    Gain a valuable network of peers and experts who are committed to delivering high-quality, culturally sustaining social studies content and solutions to preK-12 schools

Meet the Inaugural 2023 Cohort

Lessons Learned from the 2023 C2M2 Cohort

Watch this webinar hosted by Andrea Foggy-Paxton alongside three C2M2 participants - Steph Manuel from TrueFiktion, Emily Goulding from Amplifier, and Karen Umemoto from UCLA Asian American Studies Center - as they share key insights gained from taking part in the C2M2 Learning Lab experience.

C2M2’s IMPACT on THE 2023 COHORT

  • "The C2M2 learning lab was a valuable experience in so many ways! Loved being in community with other education leaders of color doing similar work. It was what I always wanted as a teacher. I learned so much about the specific components of marketing to schools and school districts. All the information was facilitated in a concrete and comprehensive way, making the path forward more manageable."

    Freda Lin, YURI Education Project

  • "I was lost in regards to move forward with my work after I had the materials. C2M2 helped me think differently about marketing and messaging. Their feedback, lessons, and connection to peers really brought out opportunities to drastically improve, not only the curriculum, but the way in which the community will help build it."

    Patrick Jones, Knowledge Reigns Education Group

  • "The C2M2 workshop series was the right training at the right time as we had so many questions about how to move forward with our Multimedia Textbook project. I took over 50 pages of notes because so much of what was shared was exactly what I needed -- what the education market looks like, how to position yourself, what is your value proposition, what is the changing political and technological landscape we're entering, and how to make informed strategic decisions moving forward. I am deeply grateful for all of the valuable insights and care that we received."

    Karen Umemoto, UCLA Asian American Studies Center

  • "[C2M2] has been a great experience for me as a founder. Over the course of the program I had the opportunity to address numerous issues in my business. The facilitators helped me focus on the most pressing issues that i should be solving and provided a wealth of experience."

    Steph Manuel, TrueFiktion

  • "To have my desire to make culturally relevant materials that spark student engagement seen and affirmed, and recognized in a national peer community, was professionally transformational for me."

    Emily Goulding, Amplifier

Program Content

All 2024 cohort sessions will be Thursdays from 12pm-3pm ET / 9am-12pm PT

C2M2 Introduction & Defining Quality Social Studies | April 11, 2024

1

Education Markets 101 & Market Landscape | May 16, 2024

2

3

Market Segmentation & Product Positioning | June 13, 2024

4

Partnerships & Co-Designing with School Systems | July 18, 2024

5

Communication Strategies & Measuring Impact and Efficacy | August 15, 2024

6

Product & Market Development | September 19, 2024

7

Program Reflections & What’s Next? | October 24, 2024

Program Timeline

Timeline

Application Deadline: March

Application Review: January-Early March

Interviews: Late February-Early March

Selection & Intake: Mid-Late March

Program: April-October

Program Details

Requirements:

  • Seven monthly 3-hour virtual sessions

  • Attendance to monthly office hours with field experts & facilitators

  • Diagnostic tools and session-assignments to help build your organization’s go-to-market plan and internal capacity

Additional Features:

  • Resource hub with session content, materials, and workbook

  • Network of cohort members, experts, and alumni

  • Opportunities to connect with funders and districts and showcase offerings through Social Studies Accelerator network or partner convenings

Cost: $2,500 per organization for up to two individual participants. Limited scholarships are available for qualifying organizations.

✺ Frequently asked questions ✺

  • Sessions are led by our core program facilitators and experts in the field:

    Core Program Facilitators

    • Ebony McKiver, Social Studies Accelerator - Chief Program Officer & Social Studies Content Expert

    • Margo Wright, EdSolutions – Senior Director of Market Strategy

    • Andrea Scheive, EdSolutions – Director of Market Strategy

    Example Collaborators

  • Program costs cover the participation of up to two individuals from each organization. We recommend the leader of your organization as well as the head of product or other key team members. Organizations may include a third for an additional fee of $1000. Alongside the participant profile, individuals that are available and committed to attending all sessions and office hours, and willing to engage thoughtfully with the cohort and content will find the most value in the experience. Content largely targets organizations that have a product in school systems and are looking to expand or are ready to go to market within the next 6-9 months.

  • In addition to attending sessions and 30 minutes of office hours each month, a small number of assignments are given to deepen engagement with the material. These occur across some of the sessions and do not take longer than 2 hours per session. We also administer a pre- and post-program diagnostic. Designed and administered by EdSolutions, this tool allows for a thorough assessment of your organizational phase, growth trajectory, and areas of need. Each organization receives a report and consulting session to discuss results and findings.

  • Selected candidates will be invited to interview on a rolling basis and we will notify all applicants of their status for the 2024 cohort by March.

  • The Social Studies Accelerator has a limited amount of grant funds to reduce the cost of participation for organizations for whom cost may be a barrier. Support will be based on information shared in your application and interview, and scholarship details will be shared after acceptance.

  • We offer alumni support to all participants who complete the program by attending sessions/office hours and completing required assignments. Alumni support includes connections to funding opportunities and potential partners, opportunities to showcase your work to our network, alumni sessions on topics raised throughout the cohort experience, and 1:1 advising with our bench of experts.

PROGRAM & FACILITATION PARTNERS