Join the #NSVFSummit Conversation
At Summit 2012, we’ll be taking an honest look about what’s been accomplished by education reformers, as well as what still needs to be done. This important conversation shouldn’t (and doesn’t have to) remain within the walls of the hotel. We encourage you to take part online, to share what you’re thinking, and spread what […]
Social Entrepreneurs Try to Offer Solutions to K-12 Problems
Competition for financial backing is intense … “These people are fueled by passion, drive, and commitment, and we can see evidence of their work all over the educational landscape,” Jennifer Carolan, the seed fund co-director at the NewSchools Venture Fund, based in Oakland, Calif., said of social entrepreneurs. “They’re making meaningful social change—we often say […]
Innovators, political leaders to headline NewSchools-Aspen Institute Summit 2012
Silicon Valley event to highlight ideas that are changing education Contact: Joe Ventura, (415) 615-6862/ [email protected] OAKLAND, CA, April 18, 2012— Sen. Michael Bennet, Rahm Emanuel, Harvard’s Roland Fryer, and Dave Goldberg of SurveyMonkey will be among the 115 speakers at the nation’s leading event focused on education innovation in low-income communities. The NewSchools Venture Fund-Aspen […]
Goalbook – Social IEPs for everyone? Actually, yes
Goalbook could revolutionize how we approach differentiated instruction and outcome-based education. Four of my five kids have been on IEPs (Individual Education Plans) at one point or another. Two of them still are and I have little doubt that my youngest will be too once she hits school. She’s only two, but she’s already dropping […]
Potential Benefits for Education Startups Seen in U.S. Bill
Congress last week passed a bill that makes it easier for startup companies to raise capital and go public, two oft-cited barriers for new ventures looking to enter the education market. …. A ‘New Resource’ Formal and informal mechanisms are already in place for early-stage companies to raise money. In education, the NewSchools Venture Fund, […]
LearnZillion, One of the Scrappy Startups Making D.C. a Hotspot
A new Washington, D.C., incubator, The Fort, debuted its first cohort of startups today. TechCruchnotes, “The program, which gives founders anywhere from $25,000 to $100,000 in seed capital, was lured to the area from nearby Arlington thanks to a $100,000 grant from D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray.” The D.C. metro area is home to many of […]
Education Elements raises $6 million to continue helping schools transition to blended learning
Palo Alto, CA—March 7, 2012—Education Elements, a pioneer in helping schools blend technology into everyday instruction, announced today that it has closed a $6 million round of funding. The round was led by Harmony Partners and joined by Rethink Education (which includes experienced educational technology investors Seavest Ventures, Jonathan Sackler, Matt Greenfield and Brian Olson) […]
The Educators
Christina Hall and Jennifer Green work to train better prepared, better informed city teachers. “Staggering.” That’s the word Jennifer Green uses. And she repeats it: “It’s staggering to realize you have students who have made it to the eleventh grade without being able to decode words on a page.” … The problem that UTC seeks […]
Startups Seek to Master the Education Market
The increasing flow of venture capital into K-12 and heightened interest in educational technology are creating opportunities for market newcomers Less than a year ago, Sam Chaudhary and Liam Don met at the University of Cambridge in England during a so-called startup weekend, an event where would-be entrepreneurs, Web designers, and software developers gathered to brainstorm […]
Policy Update: RESPECT Program
Ben Riley is back with another policy update from the Hill. This week Ben provides an overview of the RESPECT Program, a $5 billion proposal from the Obama Administration aimed at improving and further professionalizing the teaching profession. Learn more about this proposed program below.