In Partnership with 74

No Gates Grant for LAUSD

Alexander Russo | December 6, 2012



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On Wednesday, the Seattle-based Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation announced $25 million in grants to seven cities where charter schools and districts are working together in new and potentially effective ways.  Though LAUSD was one of the first districts to sign up for the Gates “compact” in December 2010, the district and its charter schools were not among those recognized by the foundation.

In December 2010, LAUSD became among the first nine districts to sign onto the initiative commonly called the Gates “compact.” (see LAUSDCalCharters, EdSource Today, Gates Foundation).

At the time, the district committed to work on a unified standard for academic performance, jointly study best practices for serving English Language Learners

Over the past two years, a total of 16 districts have signed onto the initiative, which calls on districts and charters to receive equitable funding, serve similar proportions of students, and streamline things like application procedures and deadlines.

Receiving anywhere up to $5 million, the seven cities were Boston, Denver, Hartford, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia and Spring Branch, Tex.

Some districts, like Chicago, didn’t receive funding this time around because of recent changes in leadership.

As of this morning, officials at LAUSD and at the California Charter Schools Association have not confirmed whether LAUSD applied for funding or whether the Board approved the application.

This was the second round of funding. There will be at least one more round of funding in 2013, according to the foundation.

Gates Foundation Gives $25 Million to Charter School Collaboration  NYTChicago misses out on Gates money for charter compact Catalyst

 

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