Meredith Olson
@mereolson
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mom of four; president @VelaOrg - own your education, don’t let it own you
Wichita, KS
Joined March 2009
RT @VELAorg: "'Own Your Education' isn’t just about the breakthroughs—it’s about showing up in the breakdowns too." Wise words from Makenzi….
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RT @ninasrees: So impressed with this community of school founders built by @mereolson @VELAorg + good to see @KKBathgate @jandrewclark @….
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RT @VELAorg: 🎉 Kicking off our VELA Con programming showcase with our power-packed academics track! First up, is this artificial intelligen….
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RT @VELAorg: Founders — have you grabbed your ticket to VELA Con yet? Tickets are moving fast — and registration to the general public open….
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RT @VELAorg: What a night in Southern Oregon! 🌟 . VELA Founder Brettani Shannon of Options for Education recently hosted the Experiential L….
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RT @mattfrendewey: Looking back on COVID, @RbnLake & Paul Hill argue that districts missed their Sputnik moment. They’re right—but the real….
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RT @webdevMason: Now is a great time to go all-in on a profoundly optimistic vision for highly localized nontraditional education that work….
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RT @HSLDA: Over 2,000 families came to Cherry Pie Day at the Homeschool State Capitol to show their support for homeschool freedom! Thank y….
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RT @VELAorg: Hey, Austin! Don't forget, our Founder Meetup is this Wednesday, March 5 from 5-7 p.m.! This event is open to both VELA founde….
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RT @VELAEdFund: "This is about owning your education," VELA President @mereolson says in this insightful piece from @StandTogether. https:….
standtogether.org
School choice debates are missing the point. It’s not just about where kids learn — it’s about how they learn.
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Want to know more? Check out the full report at: #NewFrontiersinEducation (6/6.
learneroutcomes.vela.org
This is the 2024 Learner Outcomes publication from VELA, the nation’s leading community of entrepreneurs providing alternatives to conventional schooling.
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Top priorities for founders are participant satisfaction and learner agency. And it’s working: over 90% of programs served more learners in fall 2023 than when they started, with a median annual growth rate of 25%. (5/6).
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Even though most founders aren’t required to give standardized tests, over a third use them to track progress. The Iowa Test and NWEA MAP are popular choices. (4/6).
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Almost all founders track learner outcomes, using observations, performance assessments, self-assessments, and interviews. They often use adaptive education tech with embedded assessments to tailor academic offerings. (3/6).
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Founders have a broad view of learner success, embracing a holistic approach to education. They value academic outcomes as part of a bigger goal that includes cognitive skills and personal growth. (2/6).
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There’s a lot of curiosity about what accountability looks like in the out-of-system space. @VELAEdFund's latest research digs into the myriad ways founders define and measure learner outcomes. Here are some key findings: (1/6).
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@rickhess99 @jal_mehta Check out the sessions at upcoming VELACon in June - founders of unconventional education models will explore these questions and share their firsthand experiences
velacon.vfairs.com
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@rickhess99 helpfully mentions a humane and organic approach. @jal_mehta suggests further questions on "who should “teach”; what sorts of structures, communities, and routines should replace the ones previously provided by school; and what models work and for which kids.".
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