EdPolicy
Ed Policy
NCLB: Under the Bus, But Not a Total Loss
Today AEI released a report, NCLB sanctions: Tests taken, lessons learned. The authors found that “School accountability systems in general, and NCLB in particular, had some beneficial systemic effect.” Some components of NCLB worked, some did not. Based on lessons learned the authors make recommendations for accountability 2.0.
Ed Policy
Common Core: A Platform for Equity & Innovation
The Common Core is giant platform for innovation for American education. The Common Core and the digital learning revolution are breaking down boundaries and improving the teaching profession. Most importantly, the Common Core is the promise of better education to the children of this country.
Leadership
Think Outside the Box for Las Vegas Schools
The Getting Smart team led a school design workshop for The Executive Leadership Academy, hosted by The Public Education Foundation in Las Vegas last week. Teams of principals designed next-gen K-8 and high schools and taught lessons on blended learning components.
Ed Policy
Why We Need Common Standards and Better Tests
It’s testing season--and it’s easy to criticize state tests these days. However, those tests represent an important commitment to equity. The Common Core is a big step forward and so are the tests that come with it.
Personalized Learning
Vote! American Pioneer of Teaching Award
PublicSchoolOptions.org President Beth Purcell, a parent and former teacher, announced the organization’s annual American Pioneer of Teaching Award contest here in a guest post. After narrowing the nominations down to 10 innovative finalists, they have turned the competition over to the online community to vote for the winner on Facebook.
Personalized Learning
Innovative MOOC Spearheads the “Digital Learning Transition” for Leaders
The Alliance for Excellent Education and Friday Institute for Educational Innovation at North Carolina State University have teamed up to pioneer a brand new style of Massive Online Open Course for Educators (MOOC-Ed).
EdTech
Silverback Links with Linkit & Gooru
“We call it an instructional improvement system,” said Jim Lewis. As Blaine, Idaho superintendent, Lewis got fed up with the lousy systems designed for tracking student interventions and progress, so he built his own. Other districts asked to use his Mileposts tracking software and he realized they were solving a widespread need. He formed Silverback Learning Solutions in 2010 to make it better and share it more broadly.
Personalized Learning
Blended Learning Helps Save Catholic Schools
With the help of Seton Education Partners’ Phaedrus Initiative, Saint Therese Catholic Academy, a Catholic school in Seattle’s Madrona neighborhood, was saved from closure. Saint Therese is the first blended technology learning Catholic school in the Northwest. St. Therese is one of only two Catholic schools in the country chosen by Seton Education Partners to adopt this proven, cutting edge blended learning education model.
EdTech
Fun in the Sun: Education Innovation Summit 2013
It’s been a great week at Education Innovation Summit (#EISummit). Our team enjoyed thoughtful breakout sessions, nice receptions and hallways conversations. For those traveling from colder climates the Arizona sun seemed to set a gleeful tone for the conference.
Ed Policy
Infographic: Financing the Future of Education
Today’s current system was simply not designed to allow for the flexibility that will be needed as students seek out increasingly online and blended learning opportunities. The infographic, Financing the Future of Education recommends four design principles that will get us there. The infographic is a complement to Funding Student's, Options, and Achievements released today by Digital Learning Now!.