Walton Foundation Investing $1 Billion In Charter School Efforts
Walton foundation puts up $1 billion to boost charter schools
By: Associated Press
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – A foundation run by the heirs of Wal-Mart founder Sam Walton said Thursday it will spend $1 billion over the next five years to improve public education by backing new charter schools and helping programs already up and running.
The foundation has spent more than $1 billion on K-12 education over the past 20 years, including $385 million to help start charter schools in poor communities. The new money will be spent in places where the foundation already has ties – creating new schools and developing “pipelines of talent,” said Marc Sternberg, a former high school principal who directs education philanthropy for the Walton Family Foundation.
Watch: @WFFMarc explains our $1 billion commitment to give students access to great schools. #education pic.twitter.com/lrcpqLGNhQ
— Walton Family Fdn (@WaltonFamilyFdn) January 8, 2016
“People in poverty need high-performing schools,” Sternberg said. “Our goal is that all families … have better schools. To be the rising tide to lift all boats.”
The foundation said that, after analyzing its previous work, it’s clear that students and their families should have more options, such as at charter schools, and that it should be easier for families to learn about them.
“This means creating enrollment platforms, equitable transportation access, fair funding and readily accessible, current information on schools and student performance for families and other(s),” a report by the foundation said.