RE: Question 2: Non-traditional education

I concur with the comments made regarding incentives for innovation.  We do need new models, particularly new models that work for students who are least well served by traditional educational systems.  

Cal Poly Pomona has the International Polytechnic High School on its campus, serving 420 students in an integrated, project based curriculum.  Most of the students who attend I-Poly would stand less than a fifty percent chance of even graduating from their home high school.  All the I-Poly students graduate in four years and 95% go on to higher education!  

The point is, we know what works, and I believe that districts would be much more willing to consider such models if they not only had incentives for changing existing systems, but also sanctions for maintaining failing ones.