Investing in What Comes Next

Over the past several years, ACPE’s Christopher Brown CEC Ignite and Innovation Grants have driven meaningful growth across our community—uplifting learners, energizing programs, and encouraging educators to imagine new possibilities. This work has shaped who we are today and set important groundwork for what comes next.

As we look toward the next chapter of ACPE’s future, we’ve been listening closely to our members and accredited programs. One message has been consistent: to support educators and students in deeper, more sustainable ways, we must strengthen the systems that support our work.

Over the next three years, the ACPE Foundation will prioritize major investments in technology and infrastructure—developing smarter tools, upgrading systems, and creating more connected pathways for learning. These investments are essential to ensuring that our programs, grants, and educational offerings can grow with integrity, equity, and impact.

As part of this shift, the Christopher Brown CEC Ignite and Innovation Grant programs will move to a three-year innovation cycle, with the next application period opening in 2028. This approach allows ACPE to offer larger, more meaningful funding opportunities while aligning resources with our long-term vision.

The ACPE Foundation will continue to offer the Hemenway Scholars and Boisen Scholars programs to support ACPE students. Applications for these funding opportunities will open in February 2026.

We recognize that change requires care, and we are committed to communicating thoughtfully and transparently along the way. By strengthening our foundation today, we position ACPE to dream bigger, serve more effectively, and support our community for years to come. We look forward to building what’s next—together.

Please direct any questions to Jasmine Okafor at jasmine.okafor@acpe.edu.