FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, February 12, 2002
CONTACT: Steven Baratte

$5 MILLION GRANT AWARDED IN SUPPORT OF REFORMS

     San Diego City Schools has received a $5 million grant, over five years from The Atlantic Philanthropies to support the district’s education reforms.  This grant raises the total amount awarded to the district by private foundations this school year in support of teaching and learning to $35.5 million. 

     “We believe that the reforms underway at San Diego City Schools are extraordinarily important and demonstrate that district-wide reform in an urban school district setting is possible,” said Alan Ruby, Senior Vice-President, U.S. Programs at the Atlantic Philanthropies.

     “This grant from The Atlantic Philanthropies will help us continue to deepen and refine our educational reform strategies,” said Superintendent of Public Education, Alan Bersin.  “We are very grateful to the organization for its recognition of the importance of our reforms and for this support.”

     Although many reforms were already underway, in spring 2000 the board of education approved a comprehensive improvement plan to focus on teaching and learning.  The plan encompasses seven key elements, which this grant will help support:

·         Improving instruction and putting more rigor into curriculum, with powerful literacy and mathematics frameworks.

·         Strengthening the leadership capability of principals through professional development.

·         Enhancing the skills of teachers through ongoing, focused professional development and peer coaching.

·         Providing more high-quality materials and books in the classroom.

·         Giving students, when necessary, more time to learn through extensive, targeted intervention and retention programs, and expanded summer school offerings.

·         Increasing parent and community involvement with Parent University, before- and after-school programs, preschool services, and other strategies.

·         Marshalling data and information systematically to ensure district-wide accountability.

     The district will receive $1.8 million in 2002, $1.1 million in 2003, $950,000 in 2004, $800,000 in 2005, and $350,000 in 2006.  Funding will be dependent upon a rigorous and satisfactory review of the program’s progress and upon the continuation of Superintendent Alan Bersin and Chancellor of Instruction Anthony Alvarado in their roles.

     The Atlantic Philanthropies has awarded more than 2,600 grants totaling $2.1 billion since 1982.  The organization provides approximately 70% of its support to youth development, pre-collegiate education and higher education programs.  The remaining funds are distributed to nonprofit organizations supporting seniors, health-care and human rights.