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Improving Quality and Access

Issue

“Our schools have been under-performing for 25 years...because we have been unable to enact meaningful reforms or substantially improve student learning.”

— Roy Romer, Chairman, Ed in ’08

“If we look at the economy today...it is information based. So it’s necessary to give all our children the opportunity to become knowledge workers, and that will only happen if we improve K–12 education.”

— Eli Broad, Founder, Eli & Edythe L. Broad Foundation

Funding

Less than 4% of foundations’ domestic giving for education in 2007 supported broader access to quality education

Challenge

How do we improve access to and quality of education for inner-city kids?

Strategy

Fund school redesign focused on:

Small schools
Academic rigor
Innovative teaching
Personalized learning
Partnerships with community organizations

Case Study

New Century High Schools

Since 2001, this initiative has transformed underperforming New York City high schools into innovative campuses of community-based small schools
Received $30 million in seed grants from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Carnegie Corporation of New York, and the Open Society Institute

Results

As of 2009:

88 small public high schools
32,000+ students
Significantly higher graduation rate than the citywide average

Challenge

How do we close the gap in high school dropout rates among Hispanic, black, and white students?

Strategy

Recognize and reward innovative approaches in urban communities that serve low-income and minority students

Case Study

Broad Prize for Urban Education

Scholarships rewarding students and urban school districts that demonstrate the strongest gains in student achievement
Students in winning district share $1 million annually
The top four school districts also each receive $250,000

Results

From 2002 to 2007, more than $6 million was awarded to 730 students
On average, Broad scholars have a higher college graduation rate than the norm for minority and low-income students