Between Pencil Purchases and Privatization (The Business of Education)

There's lots going on in between the mundane purchases of pencils and high-altitude arguments about privatizating public education -- but it seems like most of us don't track it, are sorta scared of it, and maybe don't get it.

A cursory look around suggests that the business of education includes services and partnerships that go far beyond the familiar territory of testing and textbook companies, Edison knockoffs, NCLB tutoring (see above), and the many variations on private involvement going on in Philadelphia (see below).

Whatever it is, it's already here:

Ten contracts to know about Philadelphia Notebook
Building a better high school Salon.com
Education companies playing ‘Let’s make a deal’ EW
SAT marketplace Washington Times
Bookgate Accusations Rhino Times
NEA: Privatization in Education NEA
Testing Companies Mine for Gold Rethinking Schools
Ethics Issues Snare School Leaders EW

From the Past:

The Education Sector BusinessWeek 2000
Is the Private Sector Qualified To Reform Schools? EW 2002
The Education of Business EW 1990
Making Schools Their Business EW 1990