Contact: Debbie Veney
[email protected] | 415-375-8262
Funding will aid in the planning and launch of new schools across the U.S.
(Oakland, CA, June 2, 2016) — Today NewSchools Venture Fund announced the latest NewSchools Invent cohort, which received more than $3 million in grants to fund the opening of four new schools this fall, and the planning of 10 schools with potential to launch in fall 2017.
“We’re enthusiastic about this NewSchools Invent cohort,” said Scott Benson, a managing partner with NewSchools Venture Fund. “It includes a diverse group of innovative leaders in cities across the country who are ready to take on the challenge of creating new types of schools. We need more innovative schools designed to better serve each student with personalized learning environments.”
NewSchools Invent, formerly known as NewSchools Catapult, supports teams of educators who are reimagining public schools through innovative designs. With an eye toward school designs that improve students’ experiences and accelerate learning, 14 teams were selected from among 52 applicants.
Teams in the planning phase are:
- Alma Fuerte Public School (Pasadena, CA);
- Growth Public School (Sacramento, CA)
- The Ipso School (San Rafael, CA)
- Noble Minds Institute for Whole Child Learning (New Orleans, LA)
- Our Neighborhood School (Denver, CO)
- Oxford Day Academy (East Palo Alto, CA)
- pilotED School (Chicago, IL)
- Redbud Montessori for All (Austin, TX)
- Rooted School (New Orleans, LA)
- United Collegiate Academy (Providence County, RI)
Those receiving launch funding, all of whom participated in an earlier planning phase with NewSchools, are:
- Brooklyn Laboratory Charter School (Brooklyn, NY)
- Solar Preparatory School for Girls (Dallas, TX)
- Detroit Prep (Detroit, MI)
- Gem Prep: Nampa (Nampa, ID)
Teams were selected based on the promise of their school’s ability to meet the needs of today’s students. We placed an emphasis on school models that are designed to personalize learning for students and enable them to develop the agency that leads to long-term success.
In addition to funding, NewSchools Invent provides teams with a supportive cohort experience—from the critical planning phase through early implementation—to help make their visions for groundbreaking new schools a reality.
Teams interested in receiving support for the design and planning of an innovative school can submit their ideas here; the formal application period will open later this summer. Those selected for planning support can later apply for launch investments, which offer select applicants funding to move from planning to implementation. The grants range from $150,000 to $500,000 across both categories.
About NewSchools Invent
NewSchools Invent is part of the organization’s Innovative Schools strategy, and supports teams of educators whose visions for innovative new public schools can help students in every neighborhood have a great school that works for them. NewSchools Invent provides funding and a supportive cohort experience to strong teams developing new district and charter schools across the country.
About NewSchools Venture Fund
NewSchools Venture Fund is a national nonprofit that seeks to transform public education so that all children have the opportunity to succeed – especially those in schools that do not currently work for them. To achieve this goal, NewSchools identifies the most promising and innovative education entrepreneurs and helps them effectively accomplish their missions to achieve outstanding results for the students they serve. Through our investing, management assistance, network building, and thought leadership, NewSchools helps to reimagine K-12 education to help students finish high school prepared and inspired to achieve their most ambitious dreams and plans.
