2026–2027 DIGITAL THRIVING FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM – CENTER FOR DIGITAL THRIVING

Skip to content 2026–2027 Digital Thriving Fellowship Program Calling all _educators_ who care about digital thriving! Are you a passionate classroom teacher, school counselor, librarian, educational technologist, curriculum designer, school leader, afterschool educators (e.g. afterschool programs, coaches, etc.), and/or educational policymaker creating innovative approaches to youth, tech, and wellbeing? The Center for Digital Thriving wants to support your work! Applications are now open for our Digital Thriving Fellows program (2026 – 2027 academic year). Too many conversations about teens and screens oversimplify the real challenges and opportunities young people face today. We want to spark a new conversation… One that’s not just about youth, but with them. One that doesn’t simply villainize tech, but approaches it with critical optimism. One that encourages agency over abstinence. That’s why this year’s Fellowship is all about Educating for Digital Agency : • We invite applications from educators whose work with young people embodies and/or explores agency-centered approaches to digital literacy and well-being. • Projects could include the design of educational frameworks, practices, pedagogies, resources, and/or tools that support digital agency among young people and illustrate what digital agency looks like. As a Fellow, you’ll join the Center’s supportive community of collaborators from a range of disciplines, backgrounds, and creative pursuits. Together, we’ll explore how to foster digital agency through youth-centered, equity-focused, critically optimistic work. Apply now if you’re developing ideas, conducting research, or creating projects that can help young people — and all of us — thrive in a world of tech. Your unique perspective and contributions could play a crucial role in shaping a future where young people thrive, however technology fits into their lives. Access and download the full Call for Proposals here. Curious to learn more? Register here. for our virtual Info Session on Feb 20, 2026 at 1:00 p.m. ET (10 a.m. PT) TIMELINE --- Applicants Open → February 13, 2026 — March 9, 2026 Applicant Info Session → February 20, 2026 at 1 p.m. EST (10 AM PST) Letter of Interest Due → March 9, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. PST Invitations for Full Proposal → Early April 2026 Full Proposals Due → Early May 2026 Decisions → June 30, 2026 Fellowship Begins → September 1, 2026 Who SHOULD APPLY? We warmly welcome applications from educators who meet the following criteria: • Hold a role as a classroom teacher, school counselor, librarian, educational technologist, curriculum designer, school leader, afterschool educators (e.g. afterschool programs, coaches, etc.), and/or policymaker • Work in K12 schools in the US or other learning contexts that serve children and/or adolescents • Have a demonstrated history, interest, and passion for advancing youth thriving in a technology-filled world Who is eligible? • Applicants based in the U.S. or residents with a project based in the U.S. Please note that international projects or applicants who reside outside the U.S. are not eligible at this time. • Individuals who are current, full-time students at the undergraduate or graduate levels are not eligible to apply at this time. This includes current PhD students. Part-time students may be eligible, depending on the circumstances; please reach out for more information. • The Fellowship program is designed for individuals and not teams. If you plan to carry out a project with support from one or more colleagues, one application should be submitted and, if accepted, one person on your team would need to represent the project as the Fellow. How do i apply? Initial “Letters of Interest” will be accepted until March 09, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time. All materials should be submitted via our application portal in Qualtrics. Still have a question? Check out our FAQs for questions about our fellowship. For any remaining questions, please come to our info session on Feb 20, 2026 at 1:00 p.m. ET (10 a.m. PT). Register here. frequently asked questions We created this FAQ to respond to common questions that we received during our inaugural application cycle. If your specific question is not answered below, feel free to add it to this form. First, it’s important to note