k12programs.com is an open forum created by School Improvement Industry/New Education Economy to foster an exchange of information by educators about school improvement programs and providers.

K12programs.com is for educators who implement school improvement programs aimed at the core function of public education teaching and learning. It covers the providers of reading, math, science and English-language learning programs, as well as comprehensive school improvement, education management, after school, supplementary and professioinal development services. All promise radical improvements in student performance- The question is will they deliver it for your school?

No Child Left Behind makes the adoption of one or more of these programs a virtual certainty for most public schools. Yet, consumer information is often slanted and always hard to pull together and assess. There are hundreds of providers and programs. More arrive on the scene daily. Deciding what's best for a specific school has become a gargantuan task

On the one hand, providers are understandably interested in selling their programs and will put results in the best possible light.

On the other, third party evaluators may be biased for or against programs, or tied to particular views of program evaluation in the current debates over the meaning of scientifically-based research. And an accurate reading of many evaluations requires doctorates in statistics and psychometrics.

Moreover, the best studies show mixed results for most programs, suggesting that assuring the right fit of school and provider before implementation determines program success.

Input from educators who are actually using the program and working with the provider is essential. Not just to the purchasing decision, but afterwards. It's not only important to know the great programs and those that can't hack it, but also: whether programs fit particular schools in particular settings, the program staff to be sought out or avoided, and what to expect as implementation proceeds. Moreover, once a school or district has purchased a program, educators need ways to determine if the challenges they confront are shared other users and to share solutions. Friends and acquaintances help, but imagine the market power of educator networks using the same services.

K12programs.com is a network catalyst. We list program providers and offer forum for users to share their experiences. We don't hype programs or providers, or dismiss them. If they are in the market we want to list them - nonprofit or for-profit, small or large, established or new, traditional or radical. Leveling the playing field is one power of the internet.

Find the program and provider and offer your comment. Good, bad or indifferent, we will place them all. If a program is not not listed, let us know. We will list it ASAP.

It does take time to write a thoughtful comment. Our incentives are really just tokens of appreciation. We don't expect they will bias anyone, except perhaps to write.

Truth in advertising is essential if markets are to work as intended. K12programs.com is part of New Education Economy, publisher of School Improvement Industry Weekly (www.siiwonline.com), the web-enabled - and independent - magazine for the marketplace created by No Child Left Behind. We also publish SIIW-The Podcast (http://siiwonline.lybsyn.com). If you want timely and reliable news on the providers and program listed here, as well as grants and RFPs, federal and state regulations, research, news and policy analysis, subscribe to SIIW.

Take Back the Market, Speak Out and Check First with www.k12programs.com.

Thank You

Marc Dean Millot
editor@k12programs.com