Education Reform Organizations Continue Transatlantic Partnership to Revolutionize Schools

PROVIDENCE – On May 5-7 38 Dutch education administrators and staff from the Netherlands-KPC Groep will visit with leadership from the Big Picture Company for a three day interactive conference. The goal of the conference is to help bring Big Picture's innovative school design to more students within the Dutch education system.  The conference will take place at the Metropolitan Regional Career and Technical Center High School, the first school created by the Big Picture Company in 1996.  In 2007 the two international education reform organizations formalized a long-standing partnership to collaborate and share ideas around innovative approaches to education reform.

"This partnership and the success of the Big Picture schools in the Netherlands, demonstrates the influence and effectiveness of our school design," said Elliot Washor, Big Picture Company co-founder and co-director.  "We look forward to furthering our collaboration with the KPC Groep and expanding our relationships with other international educational reform organizations."

Since their first meeting in 2004, 250 administrators, staff, and students from the Netherlands, representing 60 Dutch schools and educational organizations, have visited Providence on multiple trips to learn more about the Big Picture education philosophy and school design.  As a result of this collaboration, the Association Big Picture Nederland was formed in 2007 and 22 schools in the Netherlands have adopted or are in the process of adopting elements of the Big Picture school design. In addition, the Association Big Picture Nederland is an active participant in influencing education policy and change throughout the Netherlands.

"We are excited to once again welcome the KPC Groep to Providence and have an opportunity to share our ideas, insights and best practices on the important topics of education design and reform," said Dennis Littky, Big Picture Company co-founder and co-director.  "All of us at Big Picture commend the KPC Groep's efforts to create innovative and effective approaches in education for Dutch students."

The May conference will include interactive workshops where attendees will spend time in the classroom and meet with school advisors, students, principals and specialists to gain a comprehensive understanding of the innovative approach to education offered in Big Picture schools. The Dutch visitors will also have the opportunity to explore how Big Picture schools use internships to blend school-based learning with real world experiences that heighten the student's engagement in learning and the community.

"We are committed to improving education for Dutch students through innovative approaches to education such as the personalized learning at Big Picture schools," said Hanneke te Braake, KPC Groep.  "Our partnership with the Big Picture Company continues to provide us with the strategic vision, resources and tools that allow us to go home and effectively replicate the Big Picture school design throughout the Netherlands." 

Since the inception of the collaboration between Big Picture and KPC, conferences have been held in both the United States and the Netherlands and the two organizations have shared materials and strategies. The Big Picture Company is also working to expand its international influence with schools in Australia, Israel, Canada, Liberia, Ireland and the United Kingdom.

The Big Picture Company is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to a fundamental redesign of schools and schooling in the United States.  Big Picture's mission is to catalyze vital changes in American education by generating and sustaining innovative, personalized schools that work in tandem with the real world of their local community.  At the core of Big Picture's mission is a commitment to equity for underserved urban students, and the expectation that these students can achieve college success. Big Picture designs innovative public schools, researches and replicates new models for learning, and trains educators to serve as leaders in their schools and communities.

The KPC Group is non-profit consulting group that helps individuals and organizations in the Netherlands improve their capacity to learn. Its clients include schools and institutions for primary, secondary and higher education. The KPC Group provides a wide range of services, including research, advice, education, training, tutoring and project management. KPC offers a complete and integrated range of products for improving teaching and learning, and is a national source of expertise and know-how for implementing large-scale projects for improving education.

Published May 7, 2008