Effective Educators

Evidence is clear that teachers and principals are the main in-school driver of student success. Yet, young people of color and those from underserved communities often have inexperienced, unqualified, or ineffective educators. To ensure historically marginalized students have top-notch and diverse educators, the Foundation invests in research, policy development, advocacy, and technical assistance to: 1) use data to better align educator supply and demand; 2) diversify the educator pipeline; 3) build strong pathways from high school into teaching; and 4) spread innovative school staffing models that attract educators, boost retention, and improve student outcomes. Our investments focus on Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota and national efforts.

News

The Dual Enrollment Fund: Catalyzing the Next Chapter of Dual Enrollment Research

A new Dual Enrollment Research Fund launched to usher in a new wave of scholarship focused on equitable dual enrollment policies and practices.

News

Joyce Statement in Response to SCOTUS Affirmative Action Decision

The Supreme Court’s ruling could unravel the years of progress towards diversifying college campuses. The decisions will hinder colleges/universities from considering race in admission decisions, reversing decades of legal precedent.

News

Aspen Prize guides giving to community colleges

The rigorous Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence is being credited with guiding philanthropist MacKenzie Scott in her recent barrage of giving to higher education institutions.

In The Media

New project seeks to improve retention and graduation rates for students of color at University of Illinois: ‘They have a platform, they have the resources.’

On the heels of a statewide action plan that calls for greater investment in Black college students, a new coalition will examine racial equity at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and offer strategies to improve diversity.

Source
Chicago Tribune

Policy Watch

K-12 “toolbox”

School districts across Illinois have received a “toolbox” of recommendations for helping teachers and students rebound from lost learning after a year of interruptions during the COVID 19 pandemic.