The Foundation for Blended and Online Learning (FBOL) is now the Future of School Charity
When I was asked to lead the Foundation for Blended and Online Learning (FBOL) in 2015, the role aligned with a cause near and dear to me: closing the gap between the pace of technology in daily life and the pace of change in K-12 education. It’s something I’d witnessed personally as a parent of a young student, and professionally throughout my career in supporting educators as the head of schools in California and Colorado.
“The future is already here—it's just not evenly distributed.”
– William Gibson
From a social perspective, there was a missing piece. No single organization was focused on amplifying the need to bridge this divide by elevating the voices of those most impacted by it: educators and students. Personalized learning through the smart use of technology is a critical part of this transformation. Yet it isn’t at the forefront of our collective effort as a nation. In order to achieve this goal, the foundation awarded annual scholarships and grants, sponsored and conducted original research, and fostered strategic partnerships with a diverse cross-section of leaders and technologists.
“The future is already here—it's just not evenly distributed.” Widely attributed to science fiction writer William Gibson, this quote certainly applies to the current state of K-12 education in America. Dissatisfaction is widespread. Pockets of innovation exist in disparate schools and school networks. Access and academic opportunities vary widely based on zip code. Educators who are passionate may be grappling with limited resources and outdated tools. Research regarding technology’s impact on specific student populations is woefully sparse.
As 2019 comes to a close, we have much to be proud of and to reflect upon. Over the past year in particular, our Future of School initiative amplified personal stories of students and educators pioneering new modes and models to overcome a variety of teaching and learning challenges. It engaged members of the community who shared their enthusiasm for a vision of K-12 education that includes the perspectives of parents, students, teachers, school leaders, policymakers, employers and citizens. We were greatly encouraged by the feedback we received and the involvement of many who otherwise might be marginalized in the broader conversation about this fundamental public system.
The more we saw Future of School grow, the more we realized that the time has come to broaden the national conversation about new approaches to primary and secondary learning, and for preparing students for the ever-evolving future of work. We wanted to make this overall shift more visible, using our resources to better serve such a mission and inviting a much larger audience to be a part of this movement.
In doing so, FBOL has now become Future of School, a 501(c)3 people-driven public charity. Focusing solely on issues that unify and advance solutions to unlock the full potential of students, teachers and society, Future of School aims to elevate the national discourse on education.
Grounded in the belief that all kids should have a meaningful, rigorous and relevant K-12 learning experience, Future of School is the first-ever public charity fully dedicated to access to quality education.
At its core, Future of School:
strives to increase access that schools have to technology;
aims to elevate the voices of teachers, students, parents, and citizens;
seeks to highlight important changes needed in K-12 learning.
Future of School aims to be the foundation for our students’ successes and that of our society in the future of work. Our organization is made possible by donors across the country who are enabling the transformation from an outdated, one-size-fits-all K-12 system to new models enabled by technology with the power to transform our students’ lives.
Future of School will continue the important work of supporting accessibility and innovation in K-12 education via its celebrated impact summits, original publicly shared research, grants for educators innovating in their schools and a scholarship program that rewards students diversifying their educational pathways.
Be part of this important movement!
Join the Future of School and enable a brighter future—for students, graduates and educators, and for each of us.