Students for Innovation: Advocacy Day 2026

Illinois educators and students are doing amazing, innovative things in the classroom every single day. At IDEA, our hope is to give these students and educators a platform to exemplify the importance of this innovative learning. Each spring, IDEA hosts districts from all across Illinois at the State Capitol in Springfield for our Students for Innovation: Advocacy Day. Students are selected through an application process to present their projects at this annual one-day event. Our hope is to provide a platform to demonstrate the importance of innovative learning to our state legislators in order to continue and/or improve funding for innovation in Illinois classrooms. The mission is to amplify student voices by demonstrating innovative learning occurring in Illinois schools. These demonstrations will inspire legislatures and key stakeholders and highlight the importance of funding innovative practices that will drive life-long learning for both students and educators.