New Report from Gates Foundation on Education Investments

Posted by on June 15, 2009

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation shifts course without regret

For six years, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation spent billions of dollars to test the idea that smaller high schools might result in higher graduation rates and better test scores. They found instead that the key was more effective teachers, according to The Associated Press, and the foundation is fine with that. “Almost by definition, good philanthropy means we’re going to have to do some risky things, some speculative things to try and see what works and what doesn’t,” explained the foundation’s new CEO, Jeff Raikes. The responsibility for social innovation, according to Raikes, often falls on nonprofit organizations because the private sector doesn’t see the profit margin in experimentation, and most citizens don’t want the government speculating with their tax dollars. The foundation now sees, as a result of testing its hypothesis, that it must take a different direction with its education grants. As a result of its funding, it saw graduation rates rise in foundation-supported schools, but no significant improvements in student achievement or in the number of students who graduated ready for college. They now understand that the most effective path, Raikes said, is to support effective teachers.
Read more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gBfu1Zu7aIsLeH_NGiMaHbc4AEnQD98F58R80
Related: http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/top-news/index.cfm?i=58946

Report from Gates Foundation website: Reflections on Education Investments Report: http://www.gatesfoundation.org/learning/Pages/reflections-education-investments.aspx