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A teacher guides a young student with a backpack up ascending blocks toward a bright sun, symbolizing growth and possibility.

Difference Making

How Educators Can Encourage Students to Harness their Passions to Become Sustainability Changemakers

Guest Author

May 19, 2025

Educators can help students turn sustainability passions into action through experiential learning and community connections.

A young student with glasses interacts with a glowing holographic tablet in a futuristic learning environment.

EdTech

No Words Wasted: How AI and Voice Tech Are Elevating Learning Moments

Guest Author

May 15, 2025

"Orange County's 'No Words Wasted' initiative uses AI to amplify student and educator voices, ensuring every insight is captured and celebrated."

Michael Fullan and Kaleb Rashad, Getting Smart Podcast guests, featured in circular portrait photos on teal background.

Leadership

Michael Fullan and Kaleb Rashad on Leading in a Culture of Change

Tom Vander Ark

May 14, 2025

Explore deeper learning and AI in education with insights from Dr. Michael Fullan on systemness and transformative change.

Circular diagram showing Transformational Learning Principles: Nurture, Guide, and Empower, each with supporting practices.

Competency-Based Education

Schools Alive with Transformational Learning

Tom Vander Ark

May 9, 2025

Explore ISTE+ASCD Transformational Learning Principles aligning with Getting Smart Design for whole-child educational improvements.

Carlos Moreno featured on the Getting Smart Podcast at SXSW 2025, shown on a blue gradient background.

Leadership

Getting Smart and Carlos Moreno: Live from SXSW

Shawnee Caruthers, Victoria Andrews

May 2, 2025

Explore how leading with love, care, and vulnerability transforms pathways in education with insights from Carlos Moreno and Shawnee Caruthers.

Getting Smart Podcast guests Laura Hilger, Carmen Coleman, and Estrada, three education thought leaders smiling

Leadership

What are The Key Competencies of a Modern Day Leader? | Laura Hilger, Carmen Coleman and Estrada

Rebecca Midles

Apr 30, 2025

Explore the key competencies of modern leadership, focusing on personalized, competency-based learning and sustainable change.

Three students collaborating outdoors on a map project, representing innovative learner-centered microschool education.

Implementing | Build for Long-Term Financial Sustainability

Mason Pashia

Apr 29, 2025

To truly fulfill their promise, public microschools must be designed with long-term sustainability in mind.

Implementing | Lead for Continuous Improvement and R&D

Mason Pashia

Apr 29, 2025

Due to their small scale, flexibility, and autonomy, microschools are ideal places for exploring and refining new approaches to teaching, learning, and school design.

Designing | Budget and Cash Flow

Mason Pashia

Apr 29, 2025

While many school system leaders focus on long-term funding models, microschools also require up-front investments: time to plan, personnel to lead design work, and often seed capital to begin operations before per-pupil dollars arrive.

Designing | Align Your Vision With Your Learning Model

Mason Pashia

Apr 29, 2025

A key reason for increasing accessibility to public microschools is to provide students with more flexible and personalized learning environments.

	Beginning	Piloting	Implementing
From Fixed Standards to Competency-Based Mastery	BeginningFrom Fixed Standards to Competency-Based Mastery Beginning	PilotingFrom Fixed Standards to Competency-Based Mastery Piloting	ImplementingFrom Fixed Standards to Competency-Based Mastery Implementing
From One-Size-Fits-All to Adaptive Learning	BeginningFrom One-Size-Fits-All to Adaptive Learning Beginning	PilotingFrom One-Size-Fits-All to Adaptive Learning Piloting	ImplementingFrom One-Size-Fits-All to Adaptive Learning Implementing
From Prescribed Knowledge to Innovation & Inquiry	BeginningFrom Prescribed Knowledge to Innovation & Inquiry Beginning	PilotingFrom Prescribed Knowledge to Innovation & Inquiry Piloting	ImplementingFrom Prescribed Knowledge to Innovation & Inquiry Implementing
From Subjects as Silos to Transdisciplinary, Real-World Learning	BeginningFrom Subjects as Silos to Transdisciplinary, Real-World Learning Beginning	PilotingFrom Subjects as Silos to Transdisciplinary, Real-World Learning Piloting	ImplementingFrom Subjects as Silos to Transdisciplinary, Real-World Learning Implementing
From Schools as Self-Contained to Schools as Embedded in Communities	BeginningFrom Schools as Self-Contained to Schools as Embedded in Communities Beginning	PilotingFrom Schools as Self-Contained to Schools as Embedded in Communities Piloting	ImplementingFrom Schools as Self-Contained to Schools as Embedded in Communities Implementing
From Standardized Testing to Meaningful Assessment	BeginningFrom Standardized Testing to Meaningful Assessment Beginning	PilotingFrom Standardized Testing to Meaningful Assessment Piloting	ImplementingFrom Standardized Testing to Meaningful Assessment Implementing
From Institutional Ownership of Student Data to Student-Controlled Learning Wallets	BeginningFrom Institutional Ownership of Student Data to Student-Controlled Learning Wallets Beginning	PilotingFrom Institutional Ownership of Student Data to Student-Controlled Learning Wallets Piloting	ImplementingFrom Institutional Ownership of Student Data to Student-Controlled Learning Wallets Implementing

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