Good-bye Aughts. Hello Oughta Be

As Ellen Goodman says in this terrific retirement editorial, "January, after all, is named for the Roman god of beginnings and endings. He looked backward and forward at the same time." So, on this morning full of ones (1/1/10) we do the same. For our retrospective-prospective from our Knowledge Garage perspective, we have chosen to take the long view gazing way back 10 years ago to the start of the Aughts and then leaping way forward to the beginning of the next Roaring 20's with a stop in the here and now. It's an interesting time-journey. Jump on board and let us know what you think here:

Federal education policy as a national priority

2000 --- Judging from the presidential primaries underway during this month, education ranks in the top three in domestic policy.

2010 --- The rhetoric is high but the polls show education off the radar screen, getting trumped by the economy, health care, energy, jobs, etc

2020 --- Education is back on top this time as part of major new domestic and global initiatives focusing on sustainable development.

Standards-based reform as the framework for federal education policy

2000 --- Policy positions in both parties embrace standards-based reform and share a big focus on alignment challenges and strengthening accountability provisions.

2010 --- Heavy debate around common core standards, multiple measures for determining AYP, and state capacity. The stimulus funding, appropriations priorities, and ESEA reauthorization all build on the standards based reform framework but some questions begin to emerge from the innovation arena about speed and relevance.

2020 --- So long to standards based reform as it is discarded for being too slow and ineffective as a theory of change and replaced by technology-based learning infrastructures, grass roots capacity building, and free market innovation.

Education R&D as a stimulus for change

2000 --- New initiatives in the late 90's (eg comprehensive school reform, reading excellence act) requiring a research basis to program funding open up new possibilities for transforming education into an evidence-based field.

2010 --- NCLB's scientifically based research provisions and IES's focus on rigor create greater awareness (and controversy) about research's potential role in ed reform. But R&D for education is left out of the stimulus package (while other sectors net a cool $18 billion). The i3 program raises the possibility of the federal government as a venture capital partner for public school reform and innovation.

2020 --- The quality improvement movement in health care is applied to education through new catalyst R&D networks, intermediary research-to- innovation organizations, and a digital knowledge ecosystem. Web 4.0 processes using next generation social networking platforms inspire an "every day, everywhere R&D" movement for teachers and schools.

Innovation as an education reform strategy

2000 --- Almost a dirty word.

2010 --- An overused concept but also underused when spoken in the same sentence with knowledge and R&D in education.

2020 --- Knowledge, R&D, innovation and transformation are inseparable in concept and in practice as in other sectors.

Federal funding for education

2000 --- $38.4 Billion (see here)

2010 --- $120.4 Billion (includes $57.7 for ARRA)

2020 --- $120 Billion (after the cliff effect of ARRA)

Political strategies in education policy

2000 --- Triangulation

2010 --- High-partisanship (as opposed to post-partisanship)

2020 --- Tri-partisanship with the emergence of a new independent party