News about our grantees, the Foundation, and the field.
Even before the pandemic, NAEP scores for students saw unprecedented declines, especially in math. Afterschool STEM programming plays a unique role in promoting academic outcomes, supporting social-emotional development, and leveraging the home and community environments as places for extended learning. That's why Overdeck Family Foundation aims to make high-quality afterschool STEM accessible to all students.
In Q4 2021, our foundation awarded 17 grants totaling over $6.4 million dollars. Of these, three grants were new, while nine were renewals. This post highlights just some of the many organizations we’re proud to support.
The old, familiar ways of doing school left too many behind. The funders of the Canopy Project, which tracks how hundreds of schools across the country adapted and innovated in the last year, explore how the increase in student-centered teaching holds enormous potential to address longstanding inequities going forward.
Gemma Lenowitz and Britt Magneson of NIHF write about why out-of-school STEM programs are a prime way to build the next generation of resilient, creative, problem-solving, solution-finding, inspired, and innovative students—and teachers.
The NJ Tutoring Corps, a research-informed, high-dosage, small-group tutoring program created by Overdeck Family Foundation and the NJ Pandemic Relief Fund, will expand to the school year starting in January. The program was launched in summer to tackle COVID-related learning loss and accelerate learning recovery for NJ students.
In Q3 2021, our foundation awarded 33 grants totaling over $13.5 million dollars. Of these, six grants were new, while 27 were renewals. This post highlights just some of the many organizations we’re proud to support.
Kim Cassel and Melanie Dukes write about the approach Arnold Ventures and Overdeck Family Foundation take to funding innovation, validation, and evidence for high-dosage tutoring programs.
When the American Rescue Plan passed in March, America’s educators celebrated. Reopening schools and expanding opportunities and support for students who need it most suddenly seemed within reach. Anu Malipatil and Karen Hawley Miles explore the unique role philanthropy can play in ensuring these short-term dollars lead to sustainable, successful school designs and positive change.
In recent years, more and more proof points have emerged that well-designed, externally-provided professional learning can drive significant improvements in both teacher and student-level outcomes, and do so at a fraction of the cost of the average school system’s annual spend on professional development. We explore why scaling this type of professional learning for educators is critical, the impact it can have on student learning, and what still remains to be learned.
Setting students up for success is crucial every year, but particularly so following the trauma and disruption caused by the pandemic. Here’s what we predict will be critical in ensuring children can both recover and accelerate in the upcoming academic year.