Executive Summary
- A private Swedish company, Kunskapsskolan, has been successful in building a network of independent schools.
- With all its revenues are derived from a system of school vouchers implemented in the early 1990s, the company is growing rapidly, mostly in cities.
- It saves significant money by operating all its schools through a central administrative unit.
- It has successfully recruited students of differing abilities from a wide range of socio-economic backgrounds.
- Kunskapsskolan uses a ladder system to measure student achievement and tailors its programs to the needs of individual students.
- Learning offsite through the Internet saves money, and teachers act more as tutors.
- Teachers’ salaries go up with student achievement, not seniority.
- Expensive school resources like laboratories are uniquely shared and computers abound.
- Administrative efficiency is achieved by organizational streamlining.
- Satisfaction levels are high and waiting lists for entrance long.
- Kunskapsskolan is working well, but its future depends on the ability to clear a small profit.
Read PDF – FB035Kunskapsskolan
