Schools Worth Visiting
The Getting Smart team visits hundreds of schools each year and is grateful for the opportunity to see high-quality teaching and learning in action. This series features stories of schools that share best practices, lessons learned and next-gen teaching practices that support high-quality, personalized, project-based learning for all students.
Acton Academy: An Invitation to a Hero’s Journey
Acton Academy is small private K-9 school in Austin. The core promise is that each student will “Begin a Hero's Journey.” Located in Austin, Texas, students learn that courage, grit, and perseverance matter far more than regurgitation.
Planning for Long Term Success through Sustainability and Scalability
For the Horry County School District (HCS) sustainability is key to each and every decision made. Check out how only a couple years into their personalized, digital learning initiative, they are reaching financial sustainability to secure long term success.
Building Relationships and Expanding Expectations at Brooklyn Lab
In a recent trip to Brooklyn, I was lucky enough to visit the recently opened Brooklyn Lab Charter School. Home to 132 6th graders and a dedicated and inspired staff, LAB models several unique solutions for a next gen learning environment.
New in Texas Edu in 2014
Here's a look into what is new in Texas education this year.
Choosing Excellent Schools – Not Charter Versus District
By: Don Shalvey. Too often these days in schools, if you support charter schools you are seen as against the school district or even against public schools. Or, if you are a supporter of the district, you are often seen as anti-charter and against giving educational choices to parents.
Lessons from Horry County
Beth Havens, who works with innovation projects in the district, shares a few of the lessons they have learned in the process of creating a more personalized environment for their students - lessons that leaders are using throughout the district.
Why Online School? Why Full Time?
Yesterday our friends at Connections Academy released their 12th annual Parent Satisfaction Survey showing insight into why parents and students use online schools full-time.
Now Is the Time: Leveraging Technology to Close Achievement Gaps
Turnaround efforts are hard work. It takes a mindset of constant improvement to get academic traction and find the right mix and placement of blended learning supports for students and teachers.
Teachers Drive Instruction; Technology Accelerates Learning
As we’ve grown, we’ve refined a model that features high-quality, small-group instruction combined with targeted use of instructional technology to ensure that every student can learn at his or her own pace, and achieve at the highest levels.
The Renaissance of Public Education
Public education is in a renaissance. Some districts are on the cutting edge of this transformation, others are sitting back, concerned about funding and just not prepared to attack this new so-called digital revolution in education.