School choice breeds innovation, success
Organizations such as School of One which operates a math program at three New York City public middle schools are proving that innovation can occur in a public education system that is resistant to change.
Josh Dwyer
Director of Education Reform
Organizations such as School of One which operates a math program at three New York City public middle schools are proving that innovation can occur in a public education system that is resistant to change.
School of One approaches education in a unique and interesting way. It develops personalized curriculum tailored to students individual learning needs and utilizes large classrooms to facilitate teacher-student and student-student discussions.
And this approach is generating impressive results. A 2009 study by the New York City Department of Education found that students in School of One learned math skills seven times faster than their peers from similar demographic backgrounds.
Still, School of One is being restrained by the public school system it is currently operating in. It has to get the approval of politicians, school boards and teachers to begin operating in new schools. It is also restricted from basing an entire school around its unique education philosophy.
A school system centered on choice, however, would allow organizations such as School of One to expand.
In the places where choice already exists, schools have begun using technology in new and creative ways. In Illinois, schools run by groups like K12 and Rocketship Education are utilizing the Internet to help students learn languages that they otherwise would not be able to study.
Other companies such as Montessorium have developed programs for iPads and Kindles that adapt to students learning styles and target instruction toward problem areas.
Innovation has occurred outside of technology as well.
Choice has incentivized schools to extend their school days or calendar years. Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel probably would never have made an extended school day as the centerpiece of his contract negotiations with the Chicago Teachers Union if KIPP charter schools hadnt first attempted a longer school day model and seen success.
These policy changes have shown results a pilot program at a Boston middle school extending the school week by four hours led to an 80 percent improvement in math test scores.
Unfortunately, the current system is skeptical of innovation. While supporters of the traditional education model will allow some innovation to occur, they are often looking for reasons to reject new ideas.
But choice must be at the center of the education system. Without it, innovation will proceed at a snails pace and students will be the ones who suffer because of it.