Recent Posts

What K-12 Education Tries to Do—And Where It Misses
Michael Horn - March 26, 2025As America reevaluates what its public schools are truly for, new questions emerge about the purpose, performance, and priorities of K12 education. A system once centered around teaching the three Rs now juggles responsibilities as diverse as social services, values instruction, and community governance.
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How School Districts Can Pay Vendors Based on Student Outcomes
Michael Horn - March 25, 2025As school districts face growing pressure to spend limited funds wisely and show measurable returns on investment, a bold new model is gaining traction: paying vendors based on student outcomes rather than services rendered. With the end of ESSER funding and increased scrutiny from school boards, districts are seeking ways to ensure that every dollar directly improves student achievement.
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Changing the Classroom Paradigm: Academic Success and Life Skill Development with the 2Hr Learning Model
Michael Horn - May 17, 2024In an era where traditional schooling often fails to ignite students' passions, the innovative 2hr Learning Model proposed by Alpha represents a significant shift in educational paradigms. This approach is not just timely but essential, as the quest for efficient and engaging education systems becomes more urgent in the face of global educational disparities.
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Linking Education with Employment: How Aspire Ability is Fighting Underemployment in the Navajo Nation
Michael Horn - May 15, 2024The urgency of linking education with employment within the Navajo Nation is critical, given the levels of underemployment in the community. This has sparked discussions on how to effectively bridge these gaps to foster community development and individual growth.
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Excellence in Action: Lessons from the 2023 Yass Prize Winner
Michael Horn - May 14, 2024In the ever-evolving landscape of education, innovative approaches that genuinely address current demands are invaluable. This has become particularly relevant as the educational sector grapples with the aftermath of global disruptions like the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting a significant supply-demand imbalance in educational opportunities.
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Reevaluate IDRs to Ensure Equitable Student Aid and System Durability
Michael Horn - April 19, 2024As the burden of student loans continues to be a pressing issue for millions of Americans, the discourse around sustainable repayment options has intensified. Studies, including one by The Pew Charitable Trusts, highlight how income-driven repayment plans (IDRs), while designed to alleviate financial strain, might paradoxically lead to increased loan delinquency rates due to balance growth and the psychological impact of accruing debt.
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