Have a Bold Idea to Reimagine Learning? We Want to Hear it…and Possibly Fund the Idea, Too!
By Frances Messano, Senior Managing Partner
Change always begins with an idea. That idea is then refined and becomes the foundation for a new way of doing something. It’s what we call innovation — and it’s not always about creating a new thing. It could be a new way of looking at an existing thing…like education.
Innovation is at the core of what we value in America. This enduring belief that any one of us can change the world around us by implementing a new idea is central to our shared experience. And this is why I love the work I do. I have the privilege of being able to fund new ideas in PreK-12 education. For the past few years, we’ve chosen August 1 as the start of our open funding opportunities at NewSchools. So, while many people are headed off to the beach or getting in the last bit of leisure time before summer ends, we are gearing up for a flurry of activity.
We are also hoping a new crop of innovators are doing the same thing and thinking about how they can launch their education ideas. Maybe it’s opening a new school, or maybe it’s creating a new organization that will help advance diversity in PreK-12 education. We’re betting it’s something with the power to make a positive change.
Today, we announced up to $8 million dollars in funding across two of our investment areas: Innovative Public Schools and Diverse Leaders. If you are an entrepreneur or educator who has an innovative idea to reimagine learning, this could be the opportunity you’ve been waiting for, and we’d love for you to apply! Here’s more on each opportunity:
Innovative Public Schools — NewSchools invests in innovative public schools all over the country — both district and charter — that embrace an expanded definition of student success. We define this as a strong academic foundation combined with important mindsets, habits and skills needed for success in life. These innovative public schools are using new approaches to reimagine learning, so schools are more tailored to students’ individual needs, skill levels and interests. For more on the philosophy behind our investments, listen to our CEO Stacey Childress explain our approach.
Or perhaps you’d like to hear directly from educators we’ve already invested in. Maybe it will inspire you to take the leap yourself!
What We Offer: Investments of $200,000, plus management assistance and participation in a learning cohort.
Who We’re Looking For: Teams of educators with plans to open their first or second innovative district or charter public school in Fall 2021. Learn more about our eligibility criteria here.
Timeline: Apply here by November 11. Cohort selected by March 2020.
Diverse Leaders — Our aim is to see Black and Latino leaders represent at least 40% of PreK-12 education leadership, mirroring the racial and ethnic representation of U.S. students. NewSchools provides funding and management assistance to organizations advancing Black and Latino leadership in education by:
- Recruiting new Black and Latino leaders into education.
- Accelerating the careers of Black and Latino leaders already working in education.
- Creating networks of Black and Latino education leaders.
- Building the capacity of education organizations to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive.
- Influencing the field to be more diverse, equitable and inclusive in areas such as research, design, policy, and/or advocacy.
To learn more about what being a part of the Diverse Leaders cohort can do for aspiring innovators, view our newest video which features reflections from our current ventures.
What We Offer: Investments from $100,000 to $200,000, plus management assistance and participation in a learning cohort.
Who We’re Looking For: Early stage organizations (0–2 years old) and new initiatives (0–2 years old) at existing organizations to grow, advance and support Black and Latino leadership in education.
Timeline: Apply here by September 13. Cohort selected in December 2019.
