Dive Brief:
- On Tuesday, Facebook announced it would work with Summit Public Schools, a California charter network, to develop better personalized learning software for public schools.
- Summit already offers students a personalized learning plan, and a team from Facebook has been working with educators to improve the current software.
- The end result will be offered for free to other public schools.
Dive Insight:
This isn't the first time Facebook co-founder Mark Zuckerberg has dipped his toe into school transformation. Four years ago, he put $100 million towards a flawed overhaul of Newark schools. The move does, however, mark his company’s first foray into the growing world of education technology.
Other major companies and an increasing number of startups have already begun to develop and release technology intended to overhaul how classrooms operate, from personalized learning systems to teacher grading and administrative operations. Zuckerberg echoed that spirit in a statement on Tuesday’s announcement, calling the partnership "an example of how educators and engineers can team up to unlock more potential than we could have otherwise."
