Sal Khan Schools Oregon Legislators

Sal Khan, a hedge fund analyst, started making online videos to tutor his cousins. The videos gained popularity far beyond his cousins as kids across the country started benefiting from Mr. Khan’s clear and free lessons. He quit his day job in 2009 and started making lessons full-time. Now, his site, KhanAcademy.org has more than 2,400 videos in a variety of topics — math, physics, economics, and more — and 150 practice lessons (all free) that have been watched more than 76 million times. Kahn, by the way, has no teaching license in any state.

Now, a handful of Oregon legislators can be counted among Sal Khan’s viewers. Yesterday, the House Interim Committee on Education looked at technology and the role of online education in Oregon. As part of the hearing, legislators watched a video speech about Khan Academy by Sal Kahn.

Online education has been of particular interest in Oregon for the last few years. For a history on the legislative drama affecting online charter schools in Oregon read Virtual Ping Pong (for history prior to 2011) and Victories for Oregon’s K-12 Kids Today (for recent laws improving access to online education in Oregon). And for a glimpse at the powerful “disruptive innovation” of online education, watch this video by online education expert, Michael Horn. Online education (through programs like Khan Academy and online charter schools) is already improving learning for students. As these programs continue to innovate, expand, and improve, kids’ education should, too.