Improving Education

February, 2011

PHILADELPHIA –- The Center for High Impact Philanthropy at the University of Pennsylvania has released a special report on education, highlighting how donors can improve the single biggest in-school factor affecting students, teaching quality.

“High Impact Philanthropy to Improve Teaching Quality: Focus on High-Need Secondary Students,” identifies cost-effective non-profit models that improve individual teachers’ skills, principal effectiveness, and the way schools are organized.

To help donors understand how they can make the biggest difference, the report provides cost-per-impact estimates for each model and discusses how policy can enhance or prevent donor impact.

While the guide focuses on high-need secondary students, most models apply to all students, regardless of age and need.

“For far too long, too may have bought into the belief that great teachers are born, not made,” Katherina Rosqueta, executive director of the Center for High Impact Philanthropy, said. “What we have found is that great teachers – and that great principals – are developed, and both charter and non-charter models are remaking even the most chronically failing schools.”

“High Impact Philanthropy to Improve Teaching Quality,” is available here: http://goo.gl/nyQAh.

Later this year, the Center plans to release a donor toolkit based on the report’s findings and will host educational forums where donors can learn more.

The Center for High Impact Philanthropy, housed at the School of Social Policy & Practice, is a non-profit resource center established by alumni of Penn’s Wharton School. It provides independent analysis and decision-making tools to ensure that philanthropic funds have the greatest possible impact.

Additional information about the Center for High Impact Philanthropy is at http://www.impact.upenn.edu.


*********
This press release is reprinted by Alanna Shaikh out of an obscure sense of guilt. It does not represent the opinions of Alanna Shaikh or any of her employers.