MCF Unveils Five-Year, $35 Million Education Initiative

September 10, 2009

contact: Fred Silverman (415.464.2527 or via email)

Low-income students and students of color in Marin who are falling behind in school will receive extra help under a five-year initiative of the Marin Community Foundation (MCF) that will invest a minimum of $35 million to close the County's educational achievement gap.

The initiative will address challenges faced by these students in their pre-school years as well as in elementary and high school, with a long-term goal of helping them succeed after they graduate.

"Many students in the County are thriving, and we sincerely celebrate their success," said MCF President Thomas Peters in announcing the initiative. "However, there are also many who are falling behind, and for a variety of reasons, they are often students of color and ones from low-income families."

Marin County Superintendent of Schools Mary Jane Burke, commenting on the Foundation's new commitment, said, "We dream in Marin that there's a common understanding that some parents, schools, and students need more in order to succeed. This initiative can help that dream move to reality."

According to Peters, the Foundation's funding will focus on three areas: helping ensure that young children enter kindergarten prepared to succeed; providing extra help to students in elementary, middle, and high school so that when they graduate, they are prepared to apply to and complete college or other post-secondary education; and supporting local districts to improve schools with relatively higher numbers of students who need extra help.

The work with young children focuses on improving the quality of early childhood education centers and reaching out to parents so they can learn how to engage their children in educational activities and be more involved as advocates for their education.

"All the research shows the importance of investing in early childhood education," Peters said. "If children don't enter kindergarten ready to learn, it's much more difficult for them to catch up in later grades. Often," he added, "many low-income families lack the background or resources to help their kids prepare for school."

Additionally, the Foundation will provide funding so that low-income students and students of color can receive extra academic help in programs taking place in school as well as in after-school settings.

"The goal," explains Peters, "is to help prepare these students to continue their education beyond high school. And post-secondary education — whether in a four-year or two-year college or some kind of professional training — is a major factor in becoming employed, earning more, and living a fuller and more participatory life."

"Reports show that just 21% of low-income students and students of color in the districts targeted through this initiative who complete high school are ready for college or other post-secondary education," he said.

In order to improve students' chances of getting into college, the Foundation will also continue to invest in helping students learn about their educational options and access financial aid programs.

Finally, the Foundation will support individual school districts as they continue to improve their curriculum, teaching methods, and support services for students who need extra assistance. "Unfortunately," stated Peters, "there's often a correlation between under-performing schools, fewer resources, and higher numbers of low-income students and students of color. That's a great injustice for these students."

As a result, MCF is providing support to schools in San Rafael, Novato, West Marin, and Sausalito/Marin City, in addition to several countywide efforts. "We want," says Peters, to help schools improve school leadership, raise expectations for students, improve teaching, and engage parents.

"Through this initiative, we are investing not just in the future of the students benefiting from these efforts, but in the future of our entire community," he added. "We can, collectively, change the trajectory of success for these young people."

"We're also excited about the many partnerships that will be involved in this initiative," Peters said. "We'll be working closely with the County's public schools, agencies providing after-school programs and teacher training, providers of early childhood education, and scholarship and college access programs."

This initiative is one of four the Foundation is implementing under its new Strategic Plan. The other three focus on reducing the impact of climate change, ending the cycle of poverty for low-income families, and developing more affordable housing.