Sunday, June 10, 2007
The biggest econonicm devlopment challenge facing large urban areas is failing inner city school systems. It's hard to see how you can build a high income economy in urban areas where drop out rates are as high as 60%. Read more.
Clearly, the old models of high school, developed in an undustrial era, no longer work. How many businesses could survive with manufacturing lines that produced 50% defective parts? How many retailers could survive if 50% of the goods they received fromtheir suppliers were obsolete inventory?
Yet, that's what we are faced with in many of these urban settings. So, it's important to highlight urban education innovations that have generated a record of success. Here's an example from Detroit. Read more. Visit the web site of University Prep Academy.
Dropouts are not just an urban issue, as the folks in Mississippi are discovering. Read more.
If you are interested, you can download a Gates Foundation report on urban dropouts, The Silent Epidemic, here To read more about the dropout issue, see Time's story, The Dropout Nation.
posted by Ed Morrison |
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Some Background on EDPro Weblog
The purpose of this weblog is to help economic development professionals -- EDPros -- keep up with the changes sweeping our profession. Strap on your goggles. It's a whole new game. There are no experts any more. The only place to learn about economic development is from other EDPros who are doing it.
One other point: the prevaling approach (paradigm, if you like) in economic development is shifting from competition to collaboration. There are a lot of reaasons underlying this shift, but here's the important insight: You, your community, and your region will do better by collaborating and sharing information.
If you are using a news reader, here is the link to syndicate this site:
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Speaking and workshops on Open Source Economic Development
As the idea of Open Source Economic Development starts spreading, more people are asking about it. Visit the I-Open web site to learn more. My colleagues and I are happy to explain the basic concepts in a talk or a workshop. E-mail Susan Alshuler if you'd like to learn more about workshops and speaking.
Background on Ed Morrison
Download some background information on me here.
Innovation in urban education
