Private Ventures for the Public Good

Transcript Private Ventures for the Public Good

Private Ventures for the Public Good

A Campaign to Change Opinions and Improve Opportunities to Benefit Education Entrepreneurs and the Students They Serve

Threats To Education Industry

      Gridlocked political process Budget shortfalls Teacher and public employee union agitation Skeptical and negative news media Lack of evidence of private sector effectiveness Heavy-handed, monopolistic practices of public education

Anti-Education Industry Rhetoric, Policies

 In Public Policy and Procurement:    I3 Grants are open only to public school districts and non-profit organizations TN, LA, NJ and other states explicitly prohibit private sector companies from participating in charter school management.

NY allows only faith-based and non-profit organizations to bid on an after-school tutoring program     In the News Media: A NY Times columnist refers to Pearson as “the world’s largest for-profit education business.” The Washington Post emphasizes the involvement of “for-profit” organizations in a local county’s move toward more online learning.

A three-part Minneapolis Star-Tribune expose on SES focuses on “the most successful providers . . . for-profit companies.”

Opportunities for Education Industry

    NCLB created market for school/student improvements:      Tutoring/Test Prep School Turnaround Assessment Professional Development for teachers/principals Charter school management  Drop out prevention/recovery Private sector offers experienced talent, proven record Investor interest in PreK-12 is heightened Public K-12 education performance continues to lag

Education Industry Leadership: The Time is Now

   Public education needs help Government(s) cannot fix education Businesses bring critical resources to PreK-12 public education:   Innovation Research & Development    Capital Scalability Focus on Customers

Public Ventures for the Public Good: Vision

  EIA-led, long-term campaign to help create a fairer and more open market for private sector providers of education services and products.

Components  Advocacy    Communications Research Professional Development

Why EIA?

 22-year record as the voice and champion of education entrepreneurs, businesses, and investors.

 Effective advocacy and government relations programs at federal, state and local levels; coalition-building; media relations and public communications; research and reporting on preK-12 industry trends and issues.

 Partnership building-Johns Hopkins University  Coordination with other preK-12 associations

Campaign Goals

    Research – Produce and communicate credible, third party research on the efficacy of private sector contributions.

Communicate – Raise awareness and understanding of the positive educational and economic impacts of the private-sector among policymakers, public education officials, the news media, and families. Demonstrate – Document and communicate to key stakeholders the best practices of proprietary providers of education products and services.

Advocate – Foster open and fair markets for business opportunities and promote public-private partnerships.

Campaign: Four Pillars

Research Communications Professional Development Advocacy

Research Pillar

 Collect, disseminate education industry facts    Economic impact Educational impact Values, best practices of sector organizations, partnerships  Expand evidence of effectiveness    Stakeholder opinion polling Institute on Education Industry (IEI) – EIA collaboration with Johns Hopkins University School of Education Promotion of member accreditation

Communications Pillar

  Create “one-stop shop” of sector information, knowledge    Website Social media channels News media materials, spokesperson Promote and celebrate sector success   Traditional media relations Utilize member companies as conduits

Professional Development Pillar

  Develop graduate-level courses and degrees for education entrepreneurs   Collaboration between Institute of Education Industry, Johns Hopkins School of Education, Johns Hopkins Carey School of Business Course content   Span traditional and non-traditional education sectors Masters, EdD and executive-style seminars Support annual IEI conference    Highlight key industry issues; career development Participants from academia, social entrepreneurship, education industry First conference: Washington, DC, February, 2013

Advocacy Pillar

 Outreach and advocacy to government regulators, legislative bodies (federal and state)    Ongoing polling of stakeholders Third-party government relations support Focus on federal and state legislation, action:   Federal – ESEA reauthorization State – Policy ideas, amendments to ensure fair private sector participation

What Does Success Look Like?

 “Agnostic” contracting language   Federal, state and local governments Proprietary, tax-paying organizations on equal footing with public school districts, non-profits  Positive movement in awareness, knowledge, opinion   Qualitative and quantitative opinion poll data Superintendents, Title 1 directors, legislators, regulators

Campaign Governance and Leadership

  Strategic Direction   EIA Board of Directors Policy and Communications Committee Management, Implementation of Programs   EIA staff Partner organizations  Fundraising  EIF providing support for fundraising from individual donors to serve as catalyst for campaign launch