California’s new funding formula provides extra funding for low-income, English Learner, and foster care students, and it gives local districts flexibility in how they spend the money. Laura Hill, senior fellow at the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC), provides an overview of new PPIC research on implementation challenges. Then a panel of experts takes up the issue. Panelists are Carolyn Chu of the Legislative Analyst's Office; Jonathan Raymond, president of the Stuart Foundation and former superintendent of the Sacramento City Unified School District; PPIC research associate Paul Warren; and Riverside County school superintendent Kenneth Young. Patrick Murphy, PPIC research director, moderates.
Three Things You Should Know About the Stuart Foundation’s Grantmaking
Alyssa OchsIf you’re working with children in the states of California or Washington, the Stuart Foundation should definitely be on your radar. This San Francisco-based foundation awards education and child welfare grants in the $50,000 to $100,000 range each year.
The purpose of all Stuart grants is to transform public education and the child welfare system so youth can achieve great things in school and life. This might seem straightforward enough, but there are a few things that you should keep in mind as you apply for a grant with this foundation. The foundation has recently made a few crucial staffing and program changes that you may not have heard about yet (Read Stuart Foundation Profile).
The Stuart Foundation Has a New President
On May 21, 2014, the Stuart Foundation announced its new president, Jonathan P. Raymond. Raymond is replacing Christy Pichel, who led grantmaking since 2003. He comes to the Stuart Foundation from the Sacramento City Unified School District, where he served as Superintendent and was a founding member of the California Office to Reform Education (CORE). We expect Raymond to bring his passions for Common Core Standards and closing the achievement gap for minority students to the Stuart Foundation when he assumes the position in mid-July 2014.
Community Schools Are No Longer Eligible for Grants
Over the past decade, the Stuart Foundation invested nearly $12 million in community schools, like the Los Angeles Education Partnership and the Community Schools Collaboration in Washington’s South King County. In a general sense, community schools are partnerships between schools and community resources that go beyond standard public school classroom offerings. But for reasons that aren’t entirely clear, the Stuart Foundation is no longer accepting grant applications from community schools. Instead, Stuart is now focusing on improving district education systems and statewide policies.
Stuart Supports Both Public and Private Foster Care Agencies
Through its Vulnerable Youth in Child Welfare Program, the Stuart Foundation partners with both public and private child welfare agencies to provide resources and services to youth in foster care. Within its foster care support, the foundation funds programs related to safety, permanency, wellbeing, education, and family and community engagement. The foundation staff aims to identify gaps in services for foster youth and instill a sense of urgency in executing social work practices.
Stuart Foundation http://bit.ly/1DzvqmU
