Public Education

We believe in the promise of public education as the great equalizer. For too many that promise remains illusory. Educational attainment dramatically impacts positive life and societal outcomes. Yet student outcomes remain unacceptably low and the pandemic worsened the achievement and opportunity gaps that have persisted for decades. 

Schools

Our education work is anchored in the belief that all families, especially those from historically marginalized communities, should have the power to choose from a diverse set of schools that meet their children’s academic and emotional needs. We focus on the creation and growth of public charter schools and networks that are driving significant learning gains and long-term outcomes for low-income children of color. 

Human Capital

We believe that great schools are reflections of great educators and that the educators in our schools should better represent the backgrounds and experiences of the students and families they serve. Our human capital work focuses on efforts to diversify the educator workforce and better recruit, support and retain teachers and leaders.  

Innovation 

We believe that the one-size-fits-all industrial model of public education is inequitable and inadequate to prepare students to thrive in the 21st century economy and world. As a result, we also focus on innovations in school design and the future of learning that can accelerate the transition to a more flexible, relevant, equitable, and student-centered system. 

Advocacy 

We believe that those with the most at stake and most directly impacted by continued educational inequity must lead the fight for change. Our advocacy work focuses on transferring power to parent-led and community-based organizations that demand and create the change agenda. 

Post-Secondary Multiple Pathways

All students should have the preparation and agency to pursue pathways of their choosing to post-secondary success. We believe in the power and promise of a college degree as the most reliable path to create economic power and reduce inter-generational poverty. We support programs that aim to increase college access, persistence and completion for low-income and first generation students, with an emphasis on ensuring that the degree actually translates to strong first jobs and stable careers. We also believe that students and young adults need multiple post-secondary pathways that are more responsive to their real-world experiences and challenges. As a result, we support innovative models breaking down the traditional walls between high school, college and career so that more low-income students of color can pursue faster, cheaper and more equitable routes to a degree and/or professional credentials and certifications.