Bill Gates’ Education Priorities Reflect His Respect for the Field

In the last 17 years, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has spent $3.4 billion dollars to improve public education. Among other things, Gates helped…

Local Education Philanthropy: The Story No One is Talking About

Our understanding of philanthropy is faulty. Judging by news stories, commentaries, and blogs, one would assume the billion-dollar foundations of Bill Gates, Eli Broad, and…

Bill Gates Talks to Washington State Teacher of the Year Nate Bowling About ‘Nerd Farming’

Earlier this year, Beyoncé dropped a surprise video, “Formation,” a bold declaration of pride, of outrage, and of ambition, especially when she sang, “I just…

Failure Is a Part of Success: The Gates Foundation Should Be Praised for Owning Up

A recent Los Angeles Times editorial suggested that the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has been characterized by hubris. It has hedged big bets, hoping…

Yes, Let’s Follow the Money: The Myths of Billionaire-Funded Education Reform

A growing amount of scrutiny is paid to the roughly $4 billion private philanthropies give to public K-12 education annually. Such attention is understandable—even if…