Featured post from Kristen Ferris, Manager

ERS wants to congratulate the latest seven K–12 schools recognized as “breakthrough” models for the Next Generation Learning Challenge’s third wave of investment. We believe these cutting edge models will transform schools—and eventually, school systems. NGLC’s Wave IIIa’s cycle of funding identifies breakthrough models for college readiness—fundamentally redesigned, whole-school models that combine the best of mortar and online learning. Grantees are developing new, whole-school solutions to improve student performance across secondary education. The seven new grantees will receive $150,000 pre-launch planning grants, and all will be eligible for up to $300,000 in one-to-one matching funds. ERS Executive Director Karen Hawley Miles was part of the panel review process for grantee selection. As part of our work with urban school system leaders, we will be working to bring practical insights from these pioneers.

The grantees for secondary education are:

• Aspire Public Schools, a charter management organization that will open two K–8 blended learning schools in Memphis as part of the Achievement School district.
• Fayette County Public Schools' STEAM Academy in Kentucky, which will employ mastery learning, personalized instruction, internships, and dual/college-credit opportunities, and serve as an incubator for pre-service and master teachers through flexible staffing.
• Foundations College Prep, a grades 6–12 school to open in Chicago, which will combine technology with a more flexible approach to the school day.
• The Generation Schools Network, which has partnered with Denver Public Schools to turn around West Denver High School through learning time, professional development, and college/career guidance by implementing structural reforms and blended learning.
• Whittemore Park Middle School in Horry County, South Carolina, a high-poverty school that will implement the iCAN model, a whole-school turnaround initiative designed around a blended core curriculum and system of supports.
• Intrinsic Schools, a CMO that will open its first grades 6–12 school in Chicago and will leverage technology to build foundational skills, deepen learning, and cultivate autonomous and persevering learners.
• Matchbook Learning, a non-profit hybrid K-12 school turnaround management organization, which will undertake the turnaround of a middle school in Tennessee’s Achieve District through online and blended learning.

NGLC is a collaborative partnership led by EDUCAUSE. Other partners include the League for Innovation in the Community College, the International Association for K-12 Online Learning (iNACOL), and the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO).

For more information on wave IIIa of the NGLC grant program, visit www.nextgenlearning.org/wave-iii-a.