Seattle Schools Community Forum: Thoughts on the Future of Public Education, Part 1

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Thoughts on the Future of Public Education, Part 1:

Thoughts on the Future of Public Education, Part 1

Pearson, the education publisher, suffered a huge loss in February of this year.  From The Guardian:

Pearson has reported a pre-tax loss of £2.6bn for 2016, the biggest in its history, after a slump at its US education operation.

The profit warning was prompted by the collapse of its US higher education business, which is struggling with a decline in textbook sales and the transition to digital learning. The US business accounts for two-thirds of Pearson’s revenues and profits.

I point this out because even as Seattle Schools struggles with textbook adoptions, are textbooks on the way out?  I think that may be true in years to come but until every single child has a tablet or access at home to a computer, I'm not sure how that could be mandated.  It would seem to be a real cost-saver to districts as well as add to the variety of curriculum available. 

From The Atlantic, What is the Future of Public Education?  Four agendas beyond school choice the new administration might look to advance:

It appears unlikely that President-elect Donald Trump can convince Congress—even a Republican-controlled Congress—to shell out $20 billion for school choice, as he promised during his campaign. But by tapping billionaire voucher-advocate Betsy Seattle Schools Community Forum: Thoughts on the Future of Public Education, Part 1: