School Reopening Uncertainty | DeVos Announces "Microgrants" | Shaky State Funding

A Newsletter for Education Business Leaders (May 7, 2020) [ ] [Advertisement](7ZFq2flNJ:m:1:3125711346:CFC347BE2F88B640E8681B066CB9E244:r) [edBiz Update | The news roundup for education business leaders] Powered by [EDWEEK Market Brief](7ZFq2flNJ:m:1:3125711346:CFC347BE2F88B640E8681B066CB9E244:r) [EDWEEK MARKET BRIEF](7ZFq2flNJ:m:1:3125711346:CFC347BE2F88B640E8681B066CB9E244:r)  | [EDUCATION WEEK](7ZFq2flNJ:m:1:3125711346:CFC347BE2F88B640E8681B066CB9E244:r)  | [ADVERTISE](mailto:mbakley@educationweek.org?subject=Advertising%20Opportunities)  | [JOBS](7ZFq2flNJ:m:1:3125711346:CFC347BE2F88B640E8681B066CB9E244:r) [ ] [ ] [ ] Sean Cavanagh Managing Editor, EdWeek Market Brief Hello, edBiz Readers: Schools and colleges continue to weather major financial upheaval because of Covid-19, which seems to be touching every corner of the education industry. This issue of edBiz update offers news on a variety of fronts: • Both K-12 districts and colleges face major questions about how they will structure classes if they open their physical locations in the fall. • State funding for public universities has been under pressure for years, and the coronavirus is piling new uncertainties on those institutions. • Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos has announced that $180 million in grants will soon be available from the feds' emergency relief package to help statewide virtual learning and course access programs, and to fund "microgrants" for families' access to technology. If you're trying to gauge how Covid-19 is reshaping district spending, assessment, and instructional priorities, tune in for EdWeek Market Brief's [May 14 webinar](7ZFq2flNJ:m:1:3125711346:CFC347BE2F88B640E8681B066CB9E244:r). And please let me know about the coronavirus-focused content you want to see in edBiz. [ ] Sean Cavanagh Managing Editor, EdWeek Market Brief Suggestions/Feedback: Contact Sean Cavanagh at scavanagh@epe.org. Sponsorship/Business Opportunities: Contact Maurice Bakley at mbakley@epe.org. [ ] [ ] K12 [ ] [ ] [alt]   [Axios: Watch: Navigating the Challenges of Remote Learning](7ZFq2flNJ:m:1:3125711346:CFC347BE2F88B640E8681B066CB9E244:r) Watch a virtual event featuring Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, Common Sense Media CEO Jim Steyer and Coursera CEO Jeff Maggioncalda. [alt]   [NPR: Department Of Education Offers Coronavirus Relief For Home Schooling](7ZFq2flNJ:m:1:3125711346:CFC347BE2F88B640E8681B066CB9E244:r) Education Secretary Betsy DeVos is a longtime advocate of alternatives to public schools, including home schooling. The secretary has also created a grant for work-based learning programs. [alt]   [Education Next: "Preparing for a Second Wave of Shutdowns in the Fall"](7ZFq2flNJ:m:1:3125711346:CFC347BE2F88B640E8681B066CB9E244:r) "Video games are an amazing tool for education," Microsoft education executive says. [EdWeek Market Brief: McGraw-Hill and Cengage Abandon Merger Plans](7ZFq2flNJ:m:1:3125711346:CFC347BE2F88B640E8681B066CB9E244:r) The two major companies cited what they considered onerous divestiture requirements from the U.S. Department of Justice as the reason behind their joint decision. [alt]   [EdSurge: How to Help Students Navigate This Social-Emotional Rollercoaster](7ZFq2flNJ:m:1:3125711346:CFC347BE2F88B640E8681B066CB9E244:r) Schools across the country have moved at different paces in efforts to maintain a semblance of normalcy during the final months of the 2019-20 school year. [alt]   [EdWeek Market Brief: How States, Assessment Companies Can Work Together Amid Coronavirus Testing Cancellations](7ZFq2flNJ:m:1:3125711346:CFC347BE2F88B640E8681B066CB9E244:r) Scott Marion, who consults states on testing, talks about why it's important for vendors and public officials to work cooperatively in renegotiating contracts amid assessment cancellations caused by COVID-19. [Yahoo! Finance: Ministry of Education Partners with Canadian Ed-Tech Company to Equip At-Home Learning](7ZFq2flNJ:m:1:3125711346:CFC347BE2F88B640E8681B066CB9E244:r) Leading ed-tech company Knowledgehook releases a dedicated platform, Knowledgehook Open Access, to support students and families and minimize the impact of school closures on student learning. [ ] ADVERTISEMENT [Advertisement](7ZFq2flNJ:m:1:3125711346:CFC347BE2F88B640E8681B066CB9E244:r) [ ] Higher Education [ ] [ ] [alt]   [EdSurge: Niche Raises $35 Million to Rival School Directory Review Sites](7ZFq2flNJ:m:1:3125711346:CFC347BE2F88B640E8681B066CB9E244:r) A college ranking and review site raised a $35 million Series C investment round just before the COVID-19 outbreak. [alt]   [EdTech Magazine: The Remote Learning Diaries: Grappling with Virtual Learning](7ZFq2flNJ:m:1:3125711346:CFC347BE2F88B640E8681B066CB9E244:r) A Michigan State University student shares her thoughts on real-time virtual instruction versus prerecorded lectures - and the realization that some campus resources simply can't be replaced. [alt]   [EdTech Magazine: Adobe Education Exchange Delivers with Valuable Distance Learning Resources](7ZFq2flNJ:m:1:3125711346:CFC347BE2F88B640E8681B066CB9E244:r) The transition to remote learning is being made easier for colleges and universities with help from Adobe's online platform for educators. [alt]   [NPR: Coronavirus: 6 Ways College Might Look Different In The Fall](7ZFq2flNJ:m:1:3125711346:CFC347BE2F88B640E8681B066CB9E244:r) Colleges have been careful to leave the door open on their plans for the fall semester. Most experts say it will be anything but normal. [alt]   [Inside Higher Ed: Special Publication for Trustees, Cabinets and Executives on COVID-19, Recession](7ZFq2flNJ:m:1:3125711346:CFC347BE2F88B640E8681B066CB9E244:r) Not only has COVID-19 posing challenges for college and university leaders, but the economic impacts are also exacerbating the issues schools are already facing. [alt]   [The New York Times: The 'Public' in Public College Could Be Endangered](7ZFq2flNJ:m:1:3125711346:CFC347BE2F88B640E8681B066CB9E244:r) Since the Great Recession, states have taken drastically different approaches to funding colleges. The pandemic poses an even bigger challenge. [alt]   [Vox: Distance Learning during the Coronavirus Pandemic is Changing Cheating](7ZFq2flNJ:m:1:3125711346:CFC347BE2F88B640E8681B066CB9E244:r) A sudden switch to online learning reveals a slew of challenges for educators. Et Alia [ ] [ ] [alt]   [eSchool News: 5 Tips to Design a Future-Focused Ed-Tech Mindset in the Midst of a Pandemic](7ZFq2flNJ:m:1:3125711346:CFC347BE2F88B640E8681B066CB9E244:r) As of March 29, school closures have impacted at least 124,000 U.S. public and private schools and affected at least 55.1 million students, according to Education Week. [alt]   [Business Leader News: Empiribox Ltd Raises £2m Funding to Support Primary Schools during Pandemic](7ZFq2flNJ:m:1:3125711346:CFC347BE2F88B640E8681B066CB9E244:r) Social impact investor Nesta Impact Investments, part of Nesta, and London-based investment manager, Downing LLP, have led a £2m growth funding round in Empiribox Ltd. [alt]   [VCCircle: Grapevine: Byju's Valuation May Bump Up to $10 bn; Grofers to Raise Funding](7ZFq2flNJ:m:1:3125711346:CFC347BE2F88B640E8681B066CB9E244:r) Think and Learn Pvt. Ltd, which operates ed-tech platform Byju's, is in talks to raise up to $400 million. [alt]   [The Financial Express (India): Ed-Tech Platforms Post Surge in Users and Time Spent](7ZFq2flNJ:m:1:3125711346:CFC347BE2F88B640E8681B066CB9E244:r) As per a report by BARC India and Nielsen, there has been a 30% increase in the time spent on education apps on smartphones since the lockdown. [alt]   [BW Education: How Ed-Tech Platforms Are Maintaining Quality of Education During COVID 19](7ZFq2flNJ:m:1:3125711346:CFC347BE2F88B640E8681B066CB9E244:r) Ed-tech platforms are partnering with content delivery networks to allow students unhindered access to quality education. [alt]   [Exexlive: Ed-Tech Startup Classplus Raises $9mn Funding Led by RTP Global](7ZFq2flNJ:m:1:3125711346:CFC347BE2F88B640E8681B066CB9E244:r) The platform is currently used by more than 3,500 coaching centers across over 70 cities and towns in India. [alt]   [Connected to India: India Inc. Response to COVID-19: Rising to the Occasion](7ZFq2flNJ:m:1:3125711346:CFC347BE2F88B640E8681B066CB9E244:r) Through the amalgamation of technology and innovation, the Indian business community is serving society and also creating new business opportunities in the time of the pandemic. Comings and Goings [ ] Simon Allen has been named[CEO of McGraw-Hill](7ZFq2flNJ:m:1:3125711346:CFC347BE2F88B640E8681B066CB9E244:r), the major producer of classroom resources. The news was announced during the same week that McGraw-Hill and Cengage announced that they were dropping their previously announced plans for a merger. Allen had been serving as interim CEO, and he previously served as president of the company's higher ed and international business units, and as CEO of Macmillan Education. Rob McGee has been named the [superintendent of the Neshaminy School District](7ZFq2flNJ:m:1:3125711346:CFC347BE2F88B640E8681B066CB9E244:r), a 9,000-school system in Pennsylvania. McGee had previously served as director of secondary education in the district. Keith McGee has been named[interim superintendent](7ZFq2flNJ:m:1:3125711346:CFC347BE2F88B640E8681B066CB9E244:r)of the North Little Rock, Ark., school district. McGee previously served as the assistant superintendent and director of secondary education for the 8,000-student district. Susana Baxter has been named president of LaGrange College in Georgia. Baxter has been president of the Georgia Independent College Association, an organization that supports the state's private colleges and universities. Heard of executives changing jobs within the education industry? Give us the details by writing to edbiz-transitions@educationweek.org. Jobs [ ] [ ] [Professional Development Specialist (Math) - Anchorage, AK](7ZFq2flNJ:m:1:3125711346:CFC347BE2F88B640E8681B066CB9E244:r) Curriculum Associates The Professional Development Specialist will be responsible for providing targeted professional development, ongoing in-classroom support, data analysis, daily project management, and communication with district and site leaders. [National Account Manager, Midwest - IL and MI](7ZFq2flNJ:m:1:3125711346:CFC347BE2F88B640E8681B066CB9E244:r) K12 Inc. The National Account Manager acquires and services new and existing clients within an assigned territory. Reporting to the Regional Sales Director, this position works with school administrators to assess their needs and find ways to partner with them on solutions that will help them better serve their students. [Business Analyst](7ZFq2flNJ:m:1:3125711346:CFC347BE2F88B640E8681B066CB9E244:r) Northwest Evaluation Association The Business Analyst acts as a liaison between teams inside the organization including product managers, software developers, educational researchers, content producers, and customer support representatives by translating customer and business needs into requirements. Did someone forward this to you? [Sign up](7ZFq2flNJ:m:1:3125711346:CFC347BE2F88B640E8681B066CB9E244:r) to get edBiz Update in your own inbox. This message was intended for {EMAIL}. If you would like to op-out, please [click here](7ZFq2flNJ:m:1:3125711346:CFC347BE2F88B640E8681B066CB9E244:r). Copyright © 2020 Education Week 6935 Arlington Road, Suite 100, Bethesda, MD 20814