Gates and Hewlett, two leading foundations that have been generous supporters of major California programs and organizations in education and many other fields are said to be so frustrated by the state’s lack of leadership, its legislative gridlock and the power of public sector unions in blocking reforms that they’re sharply reducing their funding in California.
Although no one will speak on the record, it’s no secret among state education officials and leaders of at least some of the organizations that have been beneficiaries of those foundations that they will probably lose major chunks of their funding. Both foundations, said a Sacramento-based education consultant, “Have in many ways given up on California.”
The two foundations’ current beneficiaries include, among many others, the Public Policy Institute of California, the Bay Area Council, the California Budget Project, the University of California, Stanford, the California Counties Educational Services Association, the Los Angeles Unified School District, EdSource, the Community College Foundation, the City and County of San Francisco, the Butte Community College Foundation, and the New Teacher Center. How many of them will be affected is anyone’s guess.