Gates Foundation dumps 'big idea' approach to build on school progress in L.A. and elsewhere

The L.A. Times reports:

The education experts at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation used to be after the one “big idea” that could transform public school education. They tried breaking down large schools into smaller, more intimate communities. They tried using test scores to evaluate teachers.

Now experience seems to have taught them not to impose so much from outside. They want to create networks of schools that will work together, with help from experts, to solve problems — and then share strategies and research. A particular goal is keeping students on track year by year, all the way to graduation.

Imagine that.