Education

College and Career Readiness Is Critical

Regardless of whether students pursue college, a career, or another path following high school, there are fundamental skills they need to be successful. The Fund encourages and supports the practices, policies, and programs that focus on imparting these critical skills to boost college and career readiness.

Build Leadership through Real-World Learning

We believe in the essential value of real-world learning that connects students and teachers with practical, project-based, professional experience matched with social-emotional support and rigorous academics. These experiences provide young people with the opportunity to become leaders in their communities.

Evaluate & Improve to Strengthen Outcomes

We understand that independent research and evaluation is required to ensure the public educational system successfully achieves its goals of promoting student access to college, career, and civic life. The Fund supports this accountability and the systemic coordination that improves student readiness and brings effective programs to scale with fidelity and quality.

What We Fund

The Fund’s grantmaking in education will unfold over the next two to three years and include:

• Direct support to Oakland Unified School District, San Francisco Unified School District, and individual public schools to implement, strengthen, and expand the Linked Learning and Career Pathways approach;
• Support for nonprofit community-based organizations that partner with schools to support students — in- and after-school — in achieving goals aligned with the Linked Learning and Career Pathways approach, e.g. workforce-development training and placement, financial education, and college access supports;
• Support for teacher preparation within the context of Linked Learning;
• Support for research and evaluation that increases knowledge in the field of education.