From the Colorado Mountains

I am sitting here in Denver, Colorado listening to sessions about alternative schools. Very interesting group of folks who have worked hard to open new models that work for kids who are not making it in regular school.  The models while different in some ways all have the heart and soul of what is good for kids.  It is fun to hear people talk who REALLY care about the kids that others often write off.  My long time friend and colleague, Arlene, is with me so gives us time to debrief and think about different models that work for kids.  All of these are part of national network funded by the Gates Foundation to bring like minded folks together to change the face of education.  We do have some common elements about what is good for kids but the excitement of sharing what really works and what are the most common challenges transcends all of the models.  The burning question is how to do we go to scale so that more children can experience success.    How do we change the school cultur and get the kids to buy in to education?   How do we engage the unengaged?   How do we get the policy makers to embrace and support innovative and creative designs.   How do we get corporate America to embrace change and support change.  I can't help but think if business had created the same products for the last 100 years without changing that the economy would have been in a recession long before now.   We need a New School Stimulus bill that rewards entrepneurship based on results!   What a concept!