Dear Reader,
Legislation and parental demand have pushed the United States education system to evolve and have challenged traditional educational models. The advancement of virtual educational software and universal student access to information is challenging every type of school (co- op, home school, district, charter, private) to rethink how students learn and how curricula is delivered. Blended learning in all types of schools has created an opportunity for every student to have an individualized learning path based upon his or her academic levels, and has opened the door for transparency and accountability between schools and families.
We are very pleased to bring you our 17th Edition of the Philadelphia Social Innovations Journal (PSIJ) titled “New School Designs and Innovative Educational Models” in partnership with The School District of Philadelphia, Clayton Christensen Institute for Disruptive Innovation, the International Association for K-12 Online Learning, Bravo Group and Public Health Fund.
In this edition PSIJ takes a closer look at new school designs in education along with programmatic, philosophical and policy challenges and opportunities that come along with new innovations in education. You will hear from national and regional education and social sector innovators, leaders and policy makers who write about the regional and national landscape of, and appetite for, new school design and innovative educational models to improve academic outcomes for Pennsylvania children and beyond.
Please plan to join us on Tuesday, April 1, 2014 from 8:00 a.m. to noon at WHYY in Philadelphia for our rescheduled launch event. Click here to register.
As always, we thank our sponsors, whose support is essential to what we do. We also want to recognize and thank our advisory board members, representing the Barra Foundation, Bank of America, Green Tree Community Health Foundation, Independence Foundation, Independence Blue Cross Foundation, Inglis Foundation, Knight Foundation, The Patricia Kind Family Foundation, The Philadelphia Foundation, Public Health Foundation, Public Health Management Corporation, Sage Communications, Scattergood Foundation, St. Christopher’s Foundation for Children, United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey, the University of Pennsylvania, Wells Fargo and the William Penn Foundation.
Very truly yours,
Nicholas Torres, Publisher
Tine Hansen-Turton, Publisher