ATS Hub Field Note – Breakthrough Innovation: A Working Definition

<jats:p>Breakthrough innovation in education requires more than incremental improvement, it demands fundamental shifts in how problems are understood, addressed, and measured. This field note presents a working definition of breakthrough innovation in education as a highly novel advance that redefines entrenched problems, enables significant improvements in learning outcomes, expands participation and access, and/or drives system-level change. Drawing on social innovation literature and education research, we identify five distinguishing factors: discontinuity, substantial improvement in outcomes, system reconfiguration, generativity and new opportunity spaces, and expanded participation with new forms of evidence. Examples including kindergarten, high-dosage tutoring, and Sesame Street illustrate each factor.</jats:p>