Press
PPI Statement on David Osborne’s Retirement from the Reinventing America’s Schools Project
05.26.2021
Famed “Reinventing Government” author led PPI’s school reform work
The Progressive Policy Institute (PPI) today announced the retirement of David Osborne, who has directed PPI’s Reinventing America’s Schools (RAS) project since 2014.
“David Osborne has long been one of America’s preeminent thinkers about how to modernize and strengthen progressive governance,” said PPI President Will Marshall. “Under his visionary leadership, PPI’s Reinventing America’s Schools project has documented the emergence of a new way of organizing public education in the 21st Century.”
As reported in his seminal 2017 book, “Reinventing America’s Schools,” the new model has evolved from the most successful public charter and “innovation” schools that are delivering high-quality learning to children in disadvantaged and minority communities in New Orleans, Washington, D.C., Indianapolis, Denver and other U.S. cities. Its hallmarks are school autonomy, customized rather than standardized learning programs, and strong public accountability for results.
Osborne is the author or co-author of many influential books, notably “Reinventing Government”, the 1992 best-seller that inspired the Clinton-Gore administration’s “rego” initiative to create higher performing public agencies.
“I’ve known David since the early 1990s, when we worked together to craft new themes and ideas that defined the “New Democrat” movement of progressive policy, “ said Marshall. “David has a rare talent for combining analytical rigor with compelling story-telling that enables him to reach a wider audience.”
David Osborne provided the following statement on his retirement from the Reinventing America’s Schools project:
“I’m going to miss my colleagues at the Progressive Policy Institute, but I plan to stay involved even as I retire. I will chair our Advisory Council, I’m sure I will continue to write, if less often, and I will continue to work on a documentary on New Orleans’ remarkable education reforms of the past 15 years, which produced the fastest improvement in the nation for a decade. But as I turn 70, I will not miss the eight-hour days at the computer.
“I want to thank PPI President Will Marshall for all his support over the years. Though I only started working at PPI in 2014, our collaboration goes back more than 30 years, and it has been not only a joy but a source of inspiration. I like to think we have nudged the country in the right direction.
“I also want to thank my Reinventing America’s Schools team, which has done yeoman’s work these past years. I have full confidence that they will continue their great work, and I promise to be there to help when needed. Finally, I am deeply grateful to our two largest funders, the Walton Family Foundation and The City Fund. They have done so much over the years to create real opportunity for low-income children, and without them we would never have been able to get this project off the ground.”
Following David’s June 1 retirement, the Reinventing America’s Schools Project will be co-led by Curtis Valentine and Tressa Pankovits. They will be supported by Veronica Goodman, who is adding a new focus on career pathways and school-to-work transitions, as well as Sloane Hurst. Will Marshall will continue to serve in an advisory role.
If you would like to send David your well wishes for his retirement, please send an email by clicking here. You can also tweet out your message and tag @RAS_Education.
About PPI:
The Progressive Policy Institute (PPI) is a catalyst for policy innovation and political reform based in Washington, D.C. Its mission is to create radically pragmatic ideas for moving America beyond ideological and partisan deadlock. Learn more about PPI by visiting progressivepolicy.org.
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