Transformational Innovation in K-12 Education: Achieving More, Spending Less in Schools, Districts, and States

Transformational Innovation in K-12 Education: Achieving More, Spending Less in Schools, Districts, and States is an edited and revised version of a publication prepared for the Center on Innovation & Improvement, for which author Herb Walberg, chairman of The Heartland Institute’s board of directors, serves as chief scientific advisor.

“The purpose of this essay,” explains Walberg, “is to summarize research on ways to significantly increase learning productivity while simultaneously reducing spending by schools, districts, and states. It was written for responsible officials in schools, districts, and states in the U.S. as well as concerned citizens and taxpayers and researchers in school reform and state finances.”

The booklet focuses on seven “transformational innovations” likely to “not only dramatically increase rates of learning but also reduce costs”: transformational budgeting, school choice, tiger mothering, differentiated pacing, superior teachers, performance-based pay, and online teaching and testing.