The need for systemic, student-centered change could not be greater at this moment. The pandemic’s effect on education systems revealed a need to better prepare for uncertainty, meet diverse student needs, and marshal strong leadership on behalf of student interests. Durable systems change is notoriously hard, and long-standing policies and lack of effective change management strategies have been the primary barriers to past efforts at sustained systemic innovation.

Effective early education experiences are critical for all students, but particularly for students who historically have been marginalized in schools, like emergent bilingual students and students with disabilities. Early language, literacy and socioemotional development are known predictors of subsequent academic achievement and they are all highly correlated with supportive and rich learning experiences in pre-K. 

The Brooks and Joan Fortune Foundation (BJFF) primarily provides funds to support education, art, and outreach programs and projects. In general, the foundation desires to support specific activities that result in a defined outcome rather than general operating funds or fundraising campaigns. While the foundation activities have historically been located in Indiana and Florida, requests from around the country will certainly be considered.

Equity

Arnold Ventures (AV) is a nonpartisan philanthropy whose core mission is to invest in evidence-based solutions that maximize opportunity and minimize injustice. The Higher Education initiative seeks to identify and scale effective practices that improve student success and address equity gaps in higher education. Even as access to higher education has significantly expanded, we still struggle to help students complete their credentials and secure a strong return on their investments.

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