Publications

Teacher-Powered Leaders Meet With Secretary King: A Reflection Blog Post

Article • June 2016

On May 18, two of our teacher-powered ambassadors sat down for tea with U.S. Secretary of Education, John King to discuss teacher leadership. One of those teachers, Jeff Austin, summarized their conversation in this post on the U.S. Department of Education blog.

In Minnesota, We Must Think Broadly About School Integration

Article • December 2015

The face of Minnesota is changing, and so must our integration policy. A Commentary for the Minneapolis Star Tribune.

The Central Problem with Big, Urban School Systems Like Minneapolis

Article • April 2015

A big district like Minneapolis has dozens of schools, and all of them could be innovating. That is, in fact, the strategic plan. But the big brain — the central office — gets in the way. How might the state usefully intervene? A Sunday Commentary for the Minneapolis Star Tribune.

What’s the Big Idea? Lots of Little Ones

Article • August 2014

To get innovation in K-12 we need to free those closest to the action—the teachers—to innovate and meet the needs of their students. Ted Kolderie draws lessons from World War 2 to make this argument, in a commentary in the Minneapolis Star Tribune.

Let’s Give Adolescents a Chance to Grow Up

Article • October 2013

The notion of “adolescence” has become a major problem in our society. Might the “infantilization” of capable young people be the cause of much of the deviant behaviors we don’t like? Ted Kolderie takes up this question in an opinion piece in the Minneapolis Star Tribune.

Minnesota teacher to Secretary Duncan: to improve teaching, put teachers in charge

Article • July 2010

Carrie Bakken, member of a teacher professional partnership (TPP) that runs Avalon High School in Saint Paul, Minnesota, met with Duncan to describe how the TPP arrangement improves school conditions for teachers and students. She argued that when teachers are put in charge, very different types of schools emerge, and today’s issues around tenure, compensation, and teacher evaluation are resolved.

New Minnesota Site-Governed Schools Law

Article • March 2010

The 2009 Minnesota Legislature passed new “site-governed school” legislation, which provides school boards a “charter-like” option. A district board may approve “site-governed schools,” which are provided significant autonomy and flexibility to develop new models of schools in exchange for greater accountability.

Shifting From “What We Spend” to “How We Spend It”

Article • January 2010

The total cost of the education system is rising at about 5 to 8 percent per year. If schools are not at the same time increasing “performance” or “productivity,” their real cost to the public is increasing. This relationship is not sustainable. To reconcile this problem, schools will need to be designed differently.

How Information Technology Can Enable 21st Century School

Article • July 2009

This paper explains the ‘how’ of achieving greater innovation with Information Technologies in schools. The problem is one of structure, and requires both a redesign of schools and of the system. Recommendations are made for states and the federal government.

Teacher Cooperatives in Education Next

Article • April 2009

Twenty years ago, when the late Albert Shanker, then president of the American Federation of Teachers, endorsed the notion of innovative schools operating outside conventional district bureaucracies, his aim was to put teachers at the helm. “If you want to hold teachers accountable,” he posited, “then teachers have to be able to run the school.” In the Spring 2009 Education Next, Beth Hawkins explores how some teachers are realizing his vision.

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