Students Assessments Aren’t Delivering on Their Promise for Accountability or Equity

Now is the Time to Reassess our Student Assessment Policies By Erin Harless, Manager of Research and Learning, NewSchools Venture Fund The education sector is in the midst of an overdue reckoning about its role in perpetuating systemic racism in this country, from curricula that perpetuates a Eurocentric worldview to an educator workforce that does […]

What’s the Future of Innovation in Education? 

For as long as there have been people, there have been folks predicting what the future might hold. And, recently at NewSchools, our team spent a whole day considering that very question, with respect to innovation in education. For part of the day we had a special guest, renowned author Steven Johnson, to help fuel our imaginations. It was great to engage in a wide-ranging conversation about Johnson’s research on the history of innovation, its implications for […]

Live From Summit 2017: Why Can’t We Be Friends?

The closing plenary of NewSchools Summit 2017 began with inspirational words from Paige Pence, a student from North Idaho STEM Prep. And, it closed with a spirited exchange of idea and philosophies from panelists who represent different political ideologies, but a share commitment to making sure every student has access to a high-quality education that […]

Live From Summit 2017: The ESSA Opportunity: Strategies from State and District Chiefs

This provocative thought-provoking session was moderated by Mike Magee from Chiefs for Change. Joining him as speakers were Pedro Martinez from San Antonio, Hanna Skandera from New Mexico and Lewis Ferebee from Indianapolis. The session explored how education system leaders are capitalizing on the flexibility and local control offered by the Every Student Succeeds Act […]

I’m Ready to Get to Work

January 2016 roared in with lots of change in the air, and we’ve all responded in different ways. Personally, I’ve spent the past two weekends glued to the television, taking it all in. And, now I’m ready to get to work. For me, that work will begin with an event tomorrow. My organization is partnering […]

Live From Summit 2016: School Discipline: It’s Complicated

Elizabeth Green, Co-Founder, CEO and Editor-in-Chief of Chalkbeat moderated a discussion exploring school discipline and zero tolerance policies in schools. Joining her as panelists were: RiShawn Biddle, Editor of Dropout Nation Steven Evangelista, Principal & Co-Founder of Harlem Link Charter School Scott Gordon, CEO of Mastery Charter Schools Shawn Hardnett, Teacher, School Founder and School […]

Live From Summit 2016: Hopes for the Future

The closing plenary at NewSchools Summit 2016 was an authentic, engaging end to a day that both began and ended with student voices. Following brief remarks, NewSchools CEO Stacey Childress led an intimate talk with Priscilla Chan, and then transitioned to a memorable conversation between former U.S. Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan and Jim Shelton, […]

Live From Summit 2016: Left, Right, Kids in the Middle

Cynthia Tucker Haynes, a Pulitzer Prize-winning syndicated columnist and a popular radio and television commentator led a lively discussion along with two panelists: Roland Martin is the host and managing editor of TV One’s News One Now Lisa Snell, Director of Education of the Reason Foundation The session discussed how education issues have come up […]