Philanthropy
Donors Choose, Except When They Can’t
DonorsChoose.org, an organization that allows teachers to request classroom supplies and experiences for their students, is guilty of discriminating against parochial and private schools. At…
There’s No Back to School for the Kids Who Get Shot and Killed
Outrage: They’re Dying More than 60 youth have been shot here in Chicago this year. At least 20 of those this summer and some of…
Why Are We Complaining About Common Funding a Charter School? It’s a Good Thing
Last week, the Chicago Sun-Times released an article announcing that Chicago native, rapper and actor, Common, was financially backing an arts-focused charter school. And as…
Are Education Reformers Willing to Put Our Money Where Our Mouth Is?
It’s getting uncomfortable out there. Amidst a national period of divisiveness and polarization, “edu-politics,” the politics of public education, is in a tender state. Rank…
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…
3 Rules for Transforming School Districts That I Learned Here in D.C.
D.C. is worth a long look if you want to make change in urban education. I have witnessed—and was fortunate enough to play a role…
With Strike Three, Education For This Election Cycle Is Out
In all three nationally televised presidential debates between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, there were missed opportunities to address what some consider the most important…
Our Schools Need Edu-Philanthropy’s Dollars and Its Policy Priorities
Is there a meaningful role for philanthropy in our push to improve our public schools? While we may think the answer is a simple one,…
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…
Big Donors Give to Charters Because They Can’t Abide How Districts Hire, Fire, and Promote
Richard Whitmire, senior fellow at the Kauffman Foundation and author of several education books, has a piece in the LA School Report that takes a look at why big education donors have moved away from giving to districts and have shifted their money to charter schools. Despite the common narrative that these philanthropists are 'anti union', Whitmire reveals that donors tend to be agnostic when it comes to unions; their issue is with how…
