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Chalkboard Project – an initiative of Foundations For A Better Oregon – is sponsored by a growing list of independent Oregon foundations. We were formed by five of Oregon's largest foundations, and now receive support from 20, mostly Oregon-based, foundations and charitable funds. Six foundations that provide the majority of our funding are represented on our board of directors. Our six leading foundations are: The Collins Foundation, The Ford Family Foundation, JELD-WEN Foundation, Meyer Memorial Trust, Oregon Community Foundation, James F. & Marion L. Miller Foundation.
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Inspiring Oregonians… to do what it takes to make ourschools among the nation’s best.
Council on Foundations Annual Conference • May 1, 2007
An Initiative of Foundations for a Better Oregon
Foundations for a Better Oregon
An Initiative of Foundations for a Better Oregon
Foundations for a Better Oregon
Additional funders:ADECThe Bend FoundationBowerman Advised Fund, OCFCow Creek Umpqua Indian FoundationFred Meyer FoundationBill and Melinda Gates FoundationJohn Gray Charitable Fund, OCFNed and Sis Hayes Family Fund, OCFNancy Horstkotte Memorial Fund, OCFIntel CorporationWK Kellogg FoundationMann-Crawford Charitable Fund, OCFJames F. and Marion L. Miller FoundationJELD-WEN Tradition FoundationAnn & Bill Swindells Charitable FoundationWhipple Foundation Fund, OCFWoodard Family Foundation
An Initiative of Foundations for a Better Oregon
An Initiative of Foundations for a Better Oregon
Long-term
action plan
An Initiative of Foundations for a Better Oregon
2007 Chalkboard legislative
priorities
based on proven practices
• Ensure educator excellence
• Create early learning success• Increase efficiency, accountability and savings through
better financial practices
• Strengthen school funding
An Initiative of Foundations for a Better Oregon
• Provide each new teacher and principalwith mentors
• Establish statewide public/privatepartnership (Oregon Collaborative forEducational Excellence) to strengthenongoing professional development foreducators
Chalkboard’s response:
THE ISSUES:
Highly qualified teachers are critical to raising studentachievement
Oregon loses 37% of its new teachers within the first fiveyears, at a cost of $45 million per year
An Initiative of Foundations for a Better Oregon
• Reduce class size to 15 in K-1
• Provide a reading tutor to every child notreading at grade level in K-3
• Provide placeholder funding for futuremiddle/high school interventions
Chalkboard’s response:
THE ISSUES:
Students must be readers by the end of third grade or facelong odds in school and life
Oregon class sizes are among the highest in the nation
Less than one-third of Oregonfourth-graders are proficient atreading, according to a national exam
An Initiative of Foundations for a Better Oregon
• Enhance the Open Book$ Web site(www.openbooksproject.org) toshow citizens how districts spendmoney
• Identify and share best financial practices with all districts, andmonitor districts regularly
• Restructure transportation funding formula to encourage morebusing cost efficiency
Chalkboard’s response:
THE ISSUES:
40% of Oregonians believe schools already have all the moneythey need, and just need to be more efficient
Oregon spends 60% more than the national average on schoolbusiness operations, and has higher per-student transportationcosts than other Western states
An Initiative of Foundations for a Better Oregon
• Double the size of the state’sschool stability fund, and use acombination of sources, includingthe corporate “kicker,” to fill it
• Establish a guaranteed level of per-student spending thatmaintains current services and invests in more research-proven practices
Chalkboard’s response:
THE ISSUE:
Oregon has one of the most unstable school fundingstructures in the country
82% of Oregonians agree that funding instability is anobstacle to school success
An Initiative of Foundations for a Better Oregon
Meanwhile, we’re also working on . . .
• Enhancing the Open Book$ Web site(www.openbooksproject.org)
• Continuing efforts to better connect parents and othercitizens with schools through grants and partnerships
• Continuing research on long-term priorities, such ascharter school enhancements, open enrollment andschool funding structure/tax reform
An Initiative of Foundations for a Better Oregon
Pilot projects of promising practices
CLASS ProjectCreative Leadership and Student Success
• Grants awarded to 3 school districts in March to testnew career paths and salary structures for teachers• Sherwood• Forest Grove• Tillamook
• Planning through summer; implementation to begin fall2007
• Possible second round of grants fall 2007
An Initiative of Foundations for a Better Oregon
Foundations for a Better Oregon
Media Relations
Foundation Collaboration
Education Reform Initiatives
Lobbying andGovernment Relations
Best PracticesResearch Stakeholder Relations
Public Involvement/Civic Engagement
