Virginia is for Lovers of Ed Reform

August 17, 2012

(Guest Post by Matthew Ladner)

Virginia Governor Bob McDonald is holding a great education reform summit in Richmond Virginia. Last night featured a discussion between two current Republican governors (McDonnell and Bobby Jindal) and two former Democrat governors (Bob Wise of West Virginia and Doug Wilder of Virginia) with a great deal of consensus on a number of big issues.

My favorite part is that the Richmond Times Dispatch has upgraded me to a “former Florida official” from the reality of “former paper-boy and burger flipper in Nederland Texas.” I will happily take the promotion-I hope to get an induction ceremony involving warpaint and a flaming spear!

 

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Posted by matthewladner

The Way of the Future: Digital Learning Now!

December 1, 2010

(Guest Post by Matthew Ladner)

The Digital Learning Council, led by former Florida Governor Jeb Bush and former West Virginia Governor Bob Wise, released a blueprint on online learning today at Jebfest the Foundation for Excellence in Education summit in DC. The summit was a smashing success more than doubled the attendance from last year, with lawmakers, educators, activists and state superintendents from 34 states.

I have read the blueprint and think lays out a great vision for the transformation of learning. My only suggestion is that digital learning enthusiasts need to put greater emphasis on transforming private school models though technology.

If organizations were able to proliferate a number of high-quality/low-cost private schools based, with technology helping to keep costs down, I’m guessing we would see a more rapid pace of change in the public sector as well. To be sure, there are plenty of other things that already make this urgent, such as state bankruptcy and enormous educational deficits, but some healthy competition can only help matters.

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Posted by matthewladner