Organizations to Follow

This list is primarily national organizations, although I am including some notable Arizona ones, since I live in Arizona. If there are other regional organizations you think are noteworthy, please feel free to comment so I can add them to the list.

Note: Wherever you see quotes, the information was taken off the organization's website, usually from their "About Us" or "Mission" pages. Information not in quotes is information added by me.
  • Alliance for Excellent Education - "The Alliance for Excellent Education is a Washington, DC-based national policy and advocacy organization that works to improve national and federal policy so that all students can achieve at high academic levels and graduate from high school ready for success in college, work, and citizenship in the twenty-first century. The Alliance focuses on America’s six million most at-risk secondary school students—those in the lowest achievement quartile—who are most likely to leave school without a diploma or to graduate unprepared for a productive future."
  • Democrats for Education Reform - "Democrats for Education Reform (DFER) is a political action committee whose mission is to encourage a more productive dialogue within the Democratic Party on the need to fundamentally reform American public education.  DFER operates on all levels of government to educate elected officials and support reform-minded candidates for public office."
  • Education Commission of the States - "The Education Commission of the States (ECS) is an interstate compact created in 1965 to improve public education by facilitating the exchange of information, ideas and experiences among state policymakers and education leaders. As a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization involving key leaders from all levels of the education system, ECS creates unique opportunities to build partnerships, share information and promote the development of policy based on available research and strategies."
  • Education|Evolving - "Education|Evolving is a kind of 'design shop'; based in Minnesota but with people in other states, working nationally to help public education with the difficult process of change. Initially we were involved mainly with states on the architecture of the K-12 system. More recently we have been involved increasingly in the redesign of schooling"
  • EducationSector.org - "Education Sector is an independent think tank that challenges conventional thinking in education policy. We are a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization committed to achieving measurable impact in education policy, both by improving existing reform initiatives and by developing new, innovative solutions to our nation’s most pressing education problems." They also have a blog called The Quick and The Ed.
  • Edutopia.com - Website by The George Lucas Educational Foundation: "The George Lucas Educational Foundation is dedicated to improving the K-12 learning process by documenting, disseminating, and advocating for innovative, replicable, and evidence-based strategies that prepare students to thrive in their future education, careers, and adult lives."
  • EdVisions Schools - "EdVisions Schools, Inc. is a Minnesota non-profit educational development organization affiliated with EdVisions Cooperative, the first public school teacher cooperative in the nation. EdVisions Schools help create and sustain a network of small, innovative high schools across the U.S. using the EdVisions Model. Our organization has two divisions; one focuses on school development, including ongoing school coaching, and two, the EdVisions leader center, supports school development through best practice dissemination, institutes, research, and a variety of technical assessment tools."
  • Foundation for Excellence in Education - "An education system that ensures each and every student achieves his or her God-given potential for learning and prepares all students for success in the 21st century economy." Former governor of Florida, Jeb Bush, is the Founder, Chairman of the Board and President of the foundation.
  • Learning First Alliance - "The Learning First Alliance is a partnership of 16 education associations with more than 10 million members dedicated to improving student learning in America's public schools. We share examples of success, encourage collaboration at every level, and work toward the continual and long-term improvement of public education based on solid research."
  • NewSchools Venture Fund - "A nonprofit venture philanthropy firm working to transform public education for low-income children."
  • Project Tomorrow - "The vision of Project Tomorrow is ensure that today’s students are well prepared to be tomorrow’s innovators, leaders and engaged citizens of the world.  We believe that by supporting the innovative uses of science, math and technology resources in our K-12 schools and communities, students will develop the critical thinking, problem solving and creativity skills needed to compete and thrive in the 21st century."
  • School of One.org - "Reimagining the classroom to meet the needs of every student." "School of One was created to generate bold, effective and transformative changes in the classroom to better meet the needs of today's students. Our first major engagement is a full-time math program in several New York City public middle schools." The program is currently determining how and where to expand.
  • Stand for Children - "Stand for Children is an innovative, grassroots child advocacy organization. Our mission is to use the power of grassroots action to help all children get the excellent public education and strong support they need to thrive." They have affiliates in Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, and Washington.
  • Students for Ed Reform - "Our mission is to work to close the achievement gap and ensure an excellent education for all children by mobilizing the next generation of leaders in education reform." College students organizing to have a voice in education reform.
  • The Buck Institute for Education - The Buck Institute for Education (BIE) is dedicated to improving 21st Century teaching and learning throughout the world by creating and disseminating products, practices and knowledge for effective Project Based Learning (PBL).
  • The Center for Education Reform - "The Center for Education Reform drives the creation of better educational opportunities for all children by leading parents, policy makers and the media in boldly advocating for school choice, advancing the charter school movement, and challenging the education establishment."
  • The Heritage Foundation - "Founded in 1973, The Heritage Foundation is a research and educational institution—a think tank—whose mission is to formulate and promote conservative public policies based on the principles of free enterprise, limited government, individual freedom, traditional American values, and a strong national defense."
  • The Institute for Democratic Education in America - "IDEA, Institute for Democratic Education in America, is national 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to ensure that all young people can engage meaningfully with their education and gain the tools to build a just, democratic, and sustainable world."
  • The New Teacher Project - "The New Teacher Project (TNTP) is a national nonprofit dedicated to closing the achievement gap by ensuring that high-need students get outstanding teachers. Founded by teachers in 1997, TNTP partners with school districts and states to implement scalable responses to their most acute teacher quality challenges."
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