EdPolicy
Transitional times
We’re in between times—in between print and digital and in between age cohorts and personalized learning. I visited with two very different groups today, both making the best of the old model. The first group writes software for smartboards—they automated the overhead. I’m not a fan…
Bloomberg lays out exciting charter vision
Bloomberg’s Plan lays out an exciting vision for 100 more NYC charters including new Children’s Zones in Brookly and the South Bronx. He asks for chancellor chartering authority (and having recently completed the NYC DOE review, I can vouch for the rigor of the process). He also…
California dreaming; school budget woes
This summer, we moved our venture fund to Texas and my wife and I moved back to Washington. Apparently I’m not the only one that left California this year. With high combined personal and business tax rates and an incapable Assembly, California has become a terrible place to…
Picking the right college is about to get easier
It’s only the beginning of the school year but for high school juniors the college preparation and selection clock is ticking. For those planning to attend college, the last two years of high school are a busy timeline with a series of complicated milestones: tests, essay, online searches,…
One round of RttT and fast reauthorization?
AP speculating on 2010 attempted ESEA reauthorization. Â Related rumors that RttT may be one round. Â Both bad ideas. There won’t be more than 6-8 great RttT proposals by November even with McKinsey/Parthenon help. We need at least 18 months of action to reshape the landscape and debate…
Harlem miracle and thoughts on authorization
Now old new, last week’s release of Hoxby‘s report demonstrating the superiority of New Yorks’s charter schools is a BFO for those of us that spend time in NYC schools.  Following up on my recent post on the best school operators, it’s worth highlighting two ladies running networks of extraordinarily good…
Pressure for more RttT winners
Eduflack reflects on pressure to expand the number of RttT winners.  To his observations I’d add growing White House and Congressional pressure to spread the peanut butter and to make more awards in phase 1.  Patrick’s post made me re-read the application and eligibility requirements and the selection criteria (…
Attacking the dropout crisis with 'restarts'
The National Journal topic this week was the drop out crisis.  I think Secretary  Duncan is right, we should improve/replace the worst schools in the country.  This would quickly improve the drop out problem.  The improvement in holding power of Locke High School after Green Dot took over is an…
Online learning news & views
1. Met the management team of Provost last week and was impressed with their plans. They’re the first 2nd gen virtual provider that I know—they’re developing their content as learning objects with the ability to customize the curriculum for each learner by level and modality. Also…
What will be the ‘shipping container’ of Edu2.0?
Forty years ago the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) adopted a standard size container and it revolutionized shipping—investment in common infrastructure went up and the cost of goods shipped went down. Wal-Mart and globalization happened. We need a digital content standard to launch the second…