Steve Barr and Green Dot Schools

Yesterday, I had breakfast with Steve Barr, founder and chairman of Green Dot Public Schools. Over the past 10 years, Green Dot has created 18 high-achieving public schools here in Los Angeles.

The strategy is three fold:

1. Create and operate high-achieving public schools where nearly all students graduate and go on to college.

2. Help parents throughout the city organize to strengthen their neighborhood schools.

3. Push the Los Angeles Unified School District to radically improve the city's public schools.

Green Dot has Six Tenets for Successful Schools: 1) Small, Safe, Personalized Schools; 2) High Expectations for All Students; 3) Locally Managed Schools 4) Increased Parent Participation 5) Maximum Funding to the Classroom; and 6) Keep Schools Open Later.
 
To get the best glimpse, read this great piece on Barr in this week's New Yorker by Doug McGray.

Amazing. Here's to more hostile (successful) takeovers of failed schools and a new century where education is a true priority and outstanding teachers multiply and receive social prominence.