The current system of public school regulations has limited the potential for educational entrepreneurs to experiment with new academic programs and techniques.  In a rare consensus, the Center for American Progress and the American Enterprise Institute propose a new regulatory framework that advances rather than inhibits the goals of educational innovators.

To create a more flexible regulatory framework within which individual actors can advance creative solutions to flaws in the education system.  More specifically, the plan seeks to free up entrepreneurs to compete for the $650 Million 'innovation fund' in the winter 2009 stimulus package.  The idea is to spur local innovative action rather than impose broad national mandates.

1. Information.  The proposal argues that poor and incomplete information regarding student performance delays innovation.  Thus, to facilitate innovation, clear metrics should be set to measure student performance.  Information should be comprehensible and comparable.  States should collaborate on which metrics are important to determine educational achievement with the goal of agreeing on common standards.

 

2. Who supplies public education?  There should be fewer restrictions on who can supply education (including Charter and Magnet Schools) and who can invest in public schooling programs.  States should facilitate the growth of charter school models with demonstrated success.

 

3. States and districts should spend wisely.  While the federal government and states should allot money for education per student with fewer restrictions, school districts should commit to standards-based procurement practices that avoid waste.  The federal government should also consider an 'investment fund' devoted to growing the resources available to support innovation in education.

 

4. "Grow what works."  Develop grant programs to invest in best practices and innovations that have demonstrated success.  To promote flexibility, the plan also suggests that corporate and tax law be reformed to allow for hybrid for-profit and non-profit corporations to be established for educational purposes.  While the new corporate formation would be allowed to generate 'low profits,' donations from private investors would not be taxed.

Implementation of the plan will tap into the $650 Million innovation fund for education in President Obama's 2009 stimulus package.  It will also require local action.  While federal initiatives can deregulate district protocol, this policy enables educational entrepreneurs, but it does not innovate on its own.  Progress in education depends upon the local actors who leverage reform in the rulebook to find the best way to promote learning and improve performance in their district or classroom.