From Baltimore to Oxford University, SIB discussions unfold…
Mosby Wants Universal Pre-K, Trauma Treatment For Kids
Baltimore Sun
City Councilman Nick J. Mosby says as mayor he would provide universal pre-kindergarten for all Baltimore children, offer more tools to help kids cope with trauma and create an office of education reform, under his plan for the city school system.
Mosby, of West Baltimore, said research shows that children who enrolled in pre-kindergarden outperformed those who did not.
His plan calls for the city to generate $15.5 million to provide slots for another 3,500 students through “social impact bonds.” Under the proposal, Mosby says investors and service providers would put up the resources to operate the programs, and if the programs meet the goals set, the city would pay an agreed upon amount. If the goals are not met, he says the city would not pay.
The city needs “bold ideas” to tackle long-standing programs, he said.
Blavatnik School & Cabinet Office Partner Up
Daniel Kodsi – Cherwell
Aiming to create a “new centre for excellence,” on March 23rd the Cabinet Office announced a five-year partnership with the Blavatnik School of Government.
The centre, which will be called the Government Outcomes Lab, will be tasked with developing research into the areas of Social Impact Bonds (SIBs) and government commissioning. SIBs are an example of ‘innovative finance,’ a field that attempts to develop new funding mechanisms for using private capital to achieve social impact.