A Little State's Big Budget Move
A review of the Rhode Island budget decision that should have people feeling optimistic about education reform.
Common Core will help charters & elearning
National Journal‘s question this week is on the common core. A number of commentators address the standards themselves. My response points to the benefits for charter networks and content developers. National standards will end the unintended race-to-the-bottom which disproportionately impacts college and career preparation for low income…
San Francisco Startup Weekend
I spent my weekend at the San Francisco Startup Weekend with execs from Facebook, Google and Founder Institute to judge 13 teams that spent Sunday finalizing a venture pitch and the chance to make a difference.
The New Normal: Universities Sponsoring Online High Schools
With K12 announcing a partnership with George Washington University for an online high school, we take a closer look at the rise of this type of university sponsorship.
States Report Challenges in Their Race to the Top
Last week, the Department of Education released reports for 12 Race to the Top grantees, detailing their progress (or lack thereof) on transforming education at the local level. The reports highlight the second-year work and accomplishments and challenges of implementing new information systems and the required tougher evaluation systems and related collective bargaining agreements.
SCE Launches Digital Learning Challenge
SCE, a Chicago-based social investment organization, launched a “Digital Learning Challenge” by inviting letters of inquiry that could lead to up to $250,000 in grants. The announcement is worth reading just because it is an interesting premise--that shifting even a portion of the out-of-school media time of low income youth to productive learning activities can make a big difference.
More Textbook for the Money with an iPad
In light of our recent discussion with David Wiley of BYU, here is a further write-up of a recent venture deal with Inkling, a start-up software company that focuses on turning textbooks into interactive content.
Gentlemen, Start Your Hearings (But Let the Race Run)
Here we go. McNeil outlines House plans to begin ESEA reauthorization hearings starting with charter schools (great place to start). Miller and Kline are thoughtful and could actually put together a decent bipartisan draft. No word from the Senate where it’s harder to imagine anything thoughtful happening.
Reality Bites: Struggle to Convert Teacher Effectiveness Promises to Policies
If states can pass laws that increase the effective use of data in education, it would set the stage for an ESEA re-authorization that supports good teachers and builds a schools system we can trust.