Vander Ark: "I Could Kick Myself"

It's not quite the same as Condoleeza Rice admitting that the Bush Administration has made thousands of mistakes during the war in Iraq, but this afternoon's Chicago Tribune includes the Gates Foundation's Tom Vander Ark saying "I could kick myself that five years ago we should have paid more attention to curriculum."

While notably candid, Vander Ark's admission isn't news to those who've been following the foundation's evolution. Over the past year or two, the foundation's shift from focusing narrowly on school size to broader issues of rigor and instruction has been welcome but extremely challenging for foundation staff and many of those who've worked with them.

Previous Posts:
Dear Tom: What Is Going On at the Gates Foundation?
Gates Foundation: Not Just About Small Schools Anymore
How the Gates Foundation Got So Hard
The End of Small Schools--Or The Beginning?