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Solutions to America’s biggest problems are emerging all around us. See the inspiring leaders behind them, and how their bottom-up approaches are transforming people’s lives.

Education

Every person should be empowered to discover how their talents and interests can contribute to society, leading to a life of meaning and purpose for all.

 A group of students gathered around a table A giant threat to our democracy can be fixed before children turn 18

Civic engagement is declining in America. Here’s how we can get it back.

 A collage with a bw photo of a building on the left and a colorful photo of a young girl hitting a pinata smiling on the right Why personalized education matters in a country as diverse as the US

Giving students freedom to focus on topics they care about inspires a lifelong love for learning. Homeschooling makes that possible.

 A black and white photo of a young kid looking stressed out about taking a standardized test. A section of a scantron is overlaid across his face. We need to move beyond standardized testing

How an outdated system designed for the Industrial Revolution came to define schools today.

 A photo collage including a school building, scantron sheet, and a black and white photo of a child's hand writing Why this school prioritizes “demonstration” over testing

The flexible learning model isn’t just for private schools.

 A photo of a student taking a photo overlaid with a spaceship launching and standardized test scantron sheet. What happens when students teach themselves?

A school with no tests and no grades may better prepare students for the future.

 Two teachers talking and laughing in a classroom. Our guide to professional development for teachers

Why uplifting educators means better communities for all.

 A young girl with glasses and curly hair making pasta The urban farm school teaching skills at the heart of everything we do

When alternative learning unsettled parents, this founder taught them to face their discomfort.

 A child playing on a playground Think youth anxiety is from social media? Think again.

Are parents focusing too much on academics and not enough on the most important part of childhood?

 A black and white photo of a schoolbus in front of a school The dark side of school zoning

Do we want an education system where home addresses determine our children’s future? 

 A group of students smiling for the camera What is self-directed learning? Here’s how it helps students.

Self-directed learning environments treat students as the unique learners they are.

 An orange cutout of a child going down a slide Kids don’t play enough. No, really — it’s affecting their mental health.

At age 9, this professor’s son refused traditional school. It turns out he had it right. 

 A yellow hand holds a degree 6 well-paying jobs that don’t require a college degree

These jobs are in demand and will make a career — no degree required
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