April 2012 Archives | Michael & Susan Dell Foundation

Dell Scholars defy the odds – 85 percent of Dell Scholars graduate from college with a degree within six years, compared with only 19 percent of kids from the same economic background, and with just 59.5 percent of the entire college-enrolled student population.

Apr 25, 2012

by: Lori Fey

Favorite Child: Dell Scholars, beacons of hope

Dell Scholars defy the odds – 85 percent of Dell Scholars graduate from college with a degree within six years, compared with only 19 percent of kids from the same economic background, and with just 59.5 percent of the entire college-enrolled student population.

We’re witnessing the rise of a low-income housing market in India. Since success is anything but a given, government support is critical. So is keeping a careful eye on unintended consequences.

Apr 19, 2012

by: Rahil Rangwala

Birth of a market: A new housing sector takes root in India

We’re witnessing the rise of a low-income housing market in India. Since success is anything but a given, government support is critical. So is keeping a careful eye on unintended consequences.

I hope I never earn the title “Dream Crusher.” It’s not one I want, and it’s not one I think I deserve. But I believe that the concept of “living the dream” excludes student loan burdens that extend into retirement. So if the tradeoff is a Dell Scholar who makes it through to graduation, I'll learn to live with it.

Apr 18, 2012

by: Oscar Sweeten-Lopez

Pricing the college dream

I hope I never earn the title “Dream Crusher.” It’s not one I want, and it’s not one I think I deserve. But I believe that the concept of “living the dream” excludes student loan burdens that extend into retirement. So if the tradeoff is a Dell Scholar who makes it through to graduation, I'll learn to live with it.

We’ve collectively played the education game for a long time; it’s time to face – and act on – the facts.

Apr 16, 2012

by: Lori Fey

Data-first thinking: DC, Deasy, Moneyball and Big Data

We’ve collectively played the education game for a long time; it’s time to face – and act on – the facts.

Our job in the coming years is to bring the right government stakeholders and the right program-implementation partners to the table to help ensure that the existing solutions are effectively implemented using money that’s already there.

Apr 12, 2012

by: Urvashi Prasad

Public health in India: Six reasons school-based health makes sense

Our job in the coming years is to bring the right government stakeholders and the right program-implementation partners to the table to help ensure that the existing solutions are effectively implemented using money that’s already there.

Heatmap illustrating the geographic diversity of the Dell Scholars Program Class of 2012. Our 300 newest scholars come from large and small districts and schools nationwide.

Apr 11, 2012

by: Oscar Sweeten-Lopez

Dell Scholars Program Class of 2012: Where are they from?

Heatmap illustrating the geographic diversity of the Dell Scholars Program Class of 2012. Our 300 newest scholars come from large and small districts and schools nationwide.

With the right tools and processes, we can identify and operationalize pragmatic, scalable strategies for helping low-income, high-potential students persist through all the big and small challenges that will inevitably cross their paths (parents’ job losses, broken down cars, sick relatives, expensive books, etc.) and graduate.

Apr 10, 2012

by: Oscar Sweeten-Lopez

Eighty percent graduation rates: Three reasons the Dell Scholars Program works

With the right tools and processes, we can identify and operationalize pragmatic, scalable strategies for helping low-income, high-potential students persist through all the big and small challenges that will inevitably cross their paths (parents’ job losses, broken down cars, sick relatives, expensive books, etc.) and graduate.

It’s time to stop couching basic techniques as new initiatives to be debated, interrogated and viewed with suspicion. Serious efforts at school reform demand that we accept practices like data-driven instruction and formative assessments as standard operating procedure.

Apr 09, 2012

by: Joe Siedlecki

Measurement mania: Here to stay until we agree on a clear definition of “teaching”

It’s time to stop couching basic techniques as new initiatives to be debated, interrogated and viewed with suspicion. Serious efforts at school reform demand that we accept practices like data-driven instruction and formative assessments as standard operating procedure.

A recent article in the Stanford Social Innovation Review critiqued private foundations for the tendency to fund diseases that are “highly visible and ownable.” The critique hit home for us – not because it reflects the way we work, but rather because it reflects some of the thinking that’s led us to our current approach to health issues in India.

Apr 04, 2012

by: Urvashi Prasad

Is there a 'right' disease to fight? Or a right way to do it?

A recent article in the Stanford Social Innovation Review critiqued private foundations for the tendency to fund diseases that are “highly visible and ownable.” The critique hit home for us – not because it reflects the way we work, but rather because it reflects some of the thinking that’s led us to our current approach to health issues in India.

There continue to be positive signs that the education sector is headed toward a new era of innovation, entrepreneurialism and effectiveness, but much work remains to be done.

Apr 04, 2012

by: Lori Fey

Reasons for optimism: Focusing on the right ed sector challenges will lead to breakthroughs

There continue to be positive signs that the education sector is headed toward a new era of innovation, entrepreneurialism and effectiveness, but much work remains to be done.

Monthly Blog Archives: April 2012