Risks and costs

“There are risks and costs to action.”

That’s a quote from John F. Kennedy, which applies to most of the educators taking action to create or expand innovative digital learning options for students. A few of these risks include:

• The new program may not attract as many students as expected.

• The students who enroll may not be the ones who were expected, creating a mismatch between students and some elements of the program.

• Devices may fail.

• Data may be breached.

• Test scores and other traditional assessment measures may not be great.

• Other schools, programs, and educators may be annoyed if the new program is too successful for their tastes.

All of these are risks; all entail potential costs. And there are plenty more risks and costs.

Which is why the rest of the quote must be considered.

“There are risks and costs to action. But they are far less than the long-range risks of comfortable inaction.”

The problem is that there is a disparity of perceived risk, between action and inaction.

Considerable evidence exists that traditional school districts are threatened by dropping enrollments, families seeking new choices, teacher shortages, and other factors.

Many educators, however, perceive more risk in trying something new than in following the long-term path that keeps those long-range risk factors in play. It’s highly unlikely that anyone will get fired or demoted because of dropping enrollments in the next year or two. Someone starting a new school, however, might fail.

But the only way to address the long-range risks that are building for public education is for public educators themselves to lead the way in creating new options.

Kudos to those—many of whom are our DLC members—who are defying the risks, taking chances, and creating better options for students and families. We are excited to work with you in 2023 and beyond!