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Sleight of Hand
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Sleight of Hand

As 12th graders receive admissions notices from early decision and early action applications, I’m thinking about the role of prestige in college admissions. 

But I’m also thinking about it because last week I interviewed Jeff Selingo for Evolution Stories (episode to air in January).

Jeff’s latest best seller, Dream School, is a must-read on college admissions. It exposes the illusions of the prestige game while offering a playbook for thriving in college and beyond.

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Fifteen schools. One Shared Purpose: Reimagining What Learning Can Look Like
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Fifteen schools. One Shared Purpose: Reimagining What Learning Can Look Like

In November, the Middle States Association accredited 15 microschools as part of our Next Generation Accreditation pilot. These schools might not have fit within a traditional accreditation model, yet they meet every one of MSA’s existing standards.

How? Through innovative models, adaptable practices, and deep purpose.

Back in October, I visited five of them across Tennessee. Here’s what I saw:

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The Coming AI Tsunami
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The Coming AI Tsunami

Have you been struggling to keep up with the constant updates, upgrades, and announcements about AI? Had you sort of checked out, because it had all become too much? There is a tsunami coming. Last week, the White House issued an Executive Order which articulates a significant federal commitment to AI literacy and education in the American K12 system.

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The Three Currencies of Leadership
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The Three Currencies of Leadership

My recent conversation with Adam Bryant has me thinking about leading change in schools. Three particular things stand out from that chat:

Focus on “impact” rather than “intent.” Adam pointed out that if we over-index on purpose and mission (“intent”), we may lose sight of the reason to lead: to create positive impact.

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Michael B. Horn’s From Reopen to Reinvent: A Must Read for School Leaders
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Michael B. Horn’s From Reopen to Reinvent: A Must Read for School Leaders

He cohosts the top education podcasts Future U and Class Disrupted. He regularly contributes to Forbes.com and writes the Substack newsletter The Future of Education. Michael also serves as an executive editor at Education Next. His work has been featured in outlets such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Atlantic, Harvard Business Review, and NBC.

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