The 'i3'

by KYW's Dr. Marciene Mattleman

We’re confronted daily with initials---the NCAA, the FHA, and the NIH among them. New is the i3 Fund, at $650 million, Investing in Education, with three categories that will make the largest awards where there’s most evidence of success.

Federal Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan, announced grants be up to $50 million each starting next year. One category, up to $30 million, is for projects that exist in pilot form that have been shown by research to work.

Duncan cautions that educational innovation shouldn’t be just generating new ideas, instead it calls for solutions. Improving use of technology in the classroom; increasing graduation rates and college preparedness; expanding the school day and academic year; and improving the quality and reach of kindergarten programs are major areas of interest.

In his presentation, Duncan cited several models of innovation including Philadelphia’s Mastery Charter Schools; the Los Angeles Green Dot public schools; Chicago’s Academy for Urban School Leadership—and Wendy Kopp’s ground-breaking Teach for America.

I’m optimistic! i3 has a real chance of improving the education of our kids.