Can Customized Education Be Scaled Up?

School of One students learning via “virtual tutor”; that’s Freakonomics Radio producer Aimee Machado getting in there with the microphone. (Photo: Stephen J. Dubner)

School of One, the New York City pilot program that aims to give every student a customized education (and the subject of a Freakonomics Radio episode), is about to grow. Joel Rose, the school’s founder, announced that he’s “departing the New York City Department of Education to launch an independent effort to take the School of One to scale.” Rick Hess, an Education Week blogger, explains why Rose likely made the move: “In leaving the NYCDOE, Rose will find it much easier to raise the capital needed to grow. Insiders estimate that he’s looking to raise $30 million over the next couple years and are confident the money will now be forthcoming.”