Private Enterprise in Public Education: Cautionary Tales from the U.S.

Invited presentation at Centre for Policy Research, New Delhi, India, July 13, 2015. 

Video posted at  http://cprindia.org/events/4511

Handout at https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B7uT6saUYAa_MzJIY2R1clRzd0k/view?usp=sharing

Abstract 

Private entities are a major player in the educational field in the US and have an increasingly high profile in India. They are closely involved in managing and running schools, and providing infrastructure, classroom materials and teacher training. Publishing companies in the U.S. have an inordinate influence over the enacted curriculum and teacher education while a non-profit is changing the face of the teaching force.

This paper will describe the impact of private entities on teacher education and the profession of teaching, illustrating with Pearson and Teach for America. The applications of these impacts to the Indian context will be discussed.