How Philanthropy Can Help Schools Deliver on the Promise of a Historic Investment 

By Erin Harless, Senior Manager, Research and Learning, and Nour Abdelmonem, Senior Analyst, Learning Solutions The public education sector sits at a crossroads. On one hand, school districts have access to unprecedented resources — $190 billion through the Elementary and Secondary Emergency Relief (ESSER) Fund — to help students and educators recover from the pandemic. At the […]

4 Inclusive Practices to Improve Grantmaking with Communities

By Natalie Wilson, Partner, Racial Equity As a Black mother raising a brilliant Black girl who attends a public middle school, I came to this work because I wanted more for all children, especially those furthest from opportunity. I wanted to be at the table where decisions were made to find, fund, and support the […]

What We’ve Learned from our Focus on Excellence and Equity in Education Innovation

By Frances Messano, President Over the past seven years, NewSchools has been intentional about centering racial equity and investing in leaders of color. Along the way, we’ve heard rumblings that some white leaders believe they shouldn’t apply for funding because their chances of receiving a grant are lower. Nothing could be further from the truth. […]

Becoming the Next CEO of NewSchools

By Frances Messano, President In March, we announced that I will succeed Stacey Childress as CEO of NewSchools Venture Fund, beginning in 2023. I am grateful for Stacey’s extraordinary leadership and intentional transition planning. She supported my growth, giving me stretch opportunities over time and the freedom to lead different parts of our work, which […]

Advancing an Integrated Vision for Excellence, Innovation, and Equity

By Stacey Childress, Chief Executive Officer As NewSchools prepares for a new chapter under our incoming CEO, Frances Messano, I have been reflecting on the work our team has done over the last eight years to strengthen public education.   A key insight I had when I joined the organization in 2014 was that in order […]

How One School Built Systems to Support its Most Vulnerable Students

By Antonio Tapia, Senior Associate Partner, NewSchools Venture Fund Photo: Neil Thomas As we wind down the most unconventional summer most of us have ever experienced, the nation’s attention has predictably shifted to the reopening of schools. Depending on your region, schools in your area are getting ready to implement a hybrid model or prepare […]