This panel will address the overarching question: How are non-traditional players applying entrepreneurial approaches to improve the quality of public education?  How is change occurring, who is behind it, and how is it working?

 

We will examine the growing role of (relatively) new players in changing the face of U.S. education.  From nonprofit human capital specialists, to for-profit companies that enable schools and districts to use data to drive decisions, to a high-performing network of charter schools, our speakers represent a broad range of theories of change and approaches to making change happen.  While they are diverse in terms of the ideas and tactics they bring to bear, they share a common goal: to ensure that all children receive a quality education, regardless of socioeconomic status.

 

Panelists will represent high-performing charter schools and leading education-focused nonprofit and for-profit organizations.  Key questions the panel will address will include:
• What are the leverage points for change? 
• What are the key trends driving change?
• How do we meaningfully measure progress?
• There is increasing focus on partnership models to bring external management expertise into schools.  How is this working?
• What does the future hold? Will the charter movement continue to grow rapidly? How and why?

 

Speakers
Luyen Chou, Senior Vice President, SchoolNet Inc.
Carolyn Heck, Director of Finance, Uncommon Schools (CBS ’05)
Sionainn Marcoux, Managing Director (NY), Education Pioneers
Jonah Rockoff, Assistant Professor of Economics and Finance, Columbia Business School (Moderator)