Hellman Foundation’s Post

In a world where the future of public education is under intense scrutiny, the Education Future Fund stands as a beacon of hope and action. The Raikes Foundation is proud to be in partnership with other critical philanthropies to counter the culture wars that have infiltrated our school districts. With a mission to protect inclusive, equitable, and safe education for all students, we are committed to supporting public schools at the forefront of these challenges. The recent surge in book bans and educational gag orders is a stark reminder of the stakes involved. However, the collective efforts of our coalition, which has already granted $14 million in pooled funds and aims to inspire even more significant aligned funding, show the power of unity in addressing these issues. Our involvement is not just about funding; it's about affirming our belief in public education as the cornerstone of a strong democracy. Together, we can ensure a future where every child has access to an education that reflects the diversity and richness of our society. Let's stand united for our schools, our students, and the very foundation of our democracy. #EducationFutureFund #PublicEducation #PhilanthropyInAction https://bit.ly/3PDZGXo

The evidence is clear: family engagement programs work. In a recent article for The Chronicle of Philanthropy, Ambika Kapur, Carnegie Corporation of New York, and Stephanie Sharp, Overdeck Family Foundation, make the case for grantmakers to prioritize this work, noting that "without family involvement, many recent philanthropic investments, especially those focus on closing pandemic-induced learning gaps, will fail to meet their potential." #FamilyEngagement #Grantmaking https://lnkd.in/eueKnDCH

Helping families play a consistent role in their kids' educations is one of the most effective and common-sense solutions available to address post-pandemic learning loss. Why then does only 8% of overall education funding support this work? Ambika Kapur, Carnegie Corporation of New York, and Stephanie Sharp, Overdeck Family Foundation, make the case for grantmakers to prioritize family engagement programs in their philanthropic investments. Read the article, first published in The Chronicle of Philanthropy. #FamilyEngagement #Grantmaking https://lnkd.in/eueKnDCH

California provides no vouchers for private school, and for low-income families, the cost of private school is quickly becoming impossible. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, the average cost of K-12 private school #education would breach $500,000 for a single child. We believe all students deserve a learning environment they love--not just those who can afford it. And with our recent expansion into preschool support, we're giving students new opportunities right from the beginning. Learn more about the rising costs of private school here: https://lnkd.in/grGktdBs #educationforall #studentsuccess #scholarship2024 #nonprofit

"School Connect focuses on placing community partners — like businesses, nonprofits and families — into schools and developing long-term connections to allow for that relationship, which is so important on both sides." - Mary Melon-Tully, OKCPS Foundation President & CEO Check out this fantastic article to learn more about our new School Connect program! https://bit.ly/3GieOEM

One year into covering education and here's the story I'm most proud of: Foundations give big boosts to some Knox County schools, but others are left behind It's my attempt to start a discourse on the influx of private funds in public schools and how that creates inequities. Important to note here - private fundraising for public schools is legal and seems to not have much of an impact on students' academic results. The nonprofits in wealthier neighborhoods can bring in hundreds of thousands of dollars each year, and organizers decide how the money should be spent. In some cases, year after year, they give enough to cover the costs of academic programs and facilities upgrades at their child's school. It's a complicated maze. While in theory all public schools should offer the same opportunities, it doesn't always play out that way. https://lnkd.in/gWRU6x-x

Addressing post-pandemic learning loss requires innovative solutions. One often overlooked yet effective approach is active family engagement in a child's education. An example of such a programme, is the training sessions organised by Bring Me a Book Hong Kong, an initiative supported by the Chen Yet-Sen Family Foundation. The family support program seeks to teach parents how to foster a love for reading at home and meet their child's unique educational needs, creating a supportive environment for better learning.  Recent studies emphasise that children perform better academically when their families are actively involved in their studies. However, despite the evidence showing the impact of family engagement programs, philanthropic support for these initiatives remains low. A report from Grantmakers for Education reveals that it accounts for just 8% of overall #education funding. As we navigate post-pandemic complexities, let's support the initiatives that recognise the important role of families in a child's academic journey. This may be the key to solving the problem of learning loss and providing more children with the support they need to perform better at school.

Op-Ed alert! As we navigate the post-pandemic world, one of the biggest challenges we face is the loss of education. Parents and caretakers have a lot on their plates, and ensuring that their children receive a quality education can be overwhelming. Check out this insightful piece on how non-profits can provide support to parents and caretakers during these challenging times.

This is an excellent piece by one of our philanthropic funders, Overdeck Family Foundation. At ParentCorps, we know how powerful the home-school connection is. Our approach holds family engagement at its center, and rigorous evaluations of ParentCorps have found that this model positively impacts children’s academic success as well as their mental and physical health for years to come. “Helping a parent or caregiver play a role in their child’s education is not something that only the best teachers can do because they instinctively know how,” the authors write. “It is a series of activities and actions, such as home visits, literacy programs, and teacher-parent communication tools, that administrators invest in, and educators buy into, year-round. Together, they ensure the entire school culture is committed to viewing families and caregivers as meaningful partners in their children’s educational success.” https://lnkd.in/e95ZrWJ8 #prek #learningrecovery #learningloss #pandemic #familyengagement #philanthropy #educationpolicy #earlychildhood #homeschoolconnection #parentcorps #nyulangone

'Long-term strategy required' to address STEM teacher supply crisis New analysis published by the National Foundation for Educational Research (#NFER) and commissioned by Gatsby Charitable Foundation doubles down on the call for a long-term strategy to tackle the crisis in teacher supply, which is particularly acute in #STEMsubjects. https://brnw.ch/21wKq4s