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.
2024.03.23 What do successful readers do - Sandy Millin for PARK.pptx
Council on Foundations, 2007
1. Inspiring Oregonians…
to do what it takes to make our
schools among the nation’s best.
Council on Foundations Annual Conference • May 1, 2007
2. Foundations for a Better Oregon
An Initiative of Foundations for a Better Oregon
3. Foundations for a Better Oregon
Additional funders:
ADEC
The Bend Foundation
Bowerman Advised Fund, OCF
Cow Creek Umpqua Indian Foundation
Fred Meyer Foundation
Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
John Gray Charitable Fund, OCF
Ned and Sis Hayes Family Fund, OCF
Nancy Horstkotte Memorial Fund, OCF
Intel Corporation
WK Kellogg Foundation
Mann-Crawford Charitable Fund, OCF
James F. and Marion L. Miller Foundation
JELD-WEN Tradition Foundation
Ann & Bill Swindells Charitable Foundation
Whipple Foundation Fund, OCF
Woodard Family Foundation
An Initiative of Foundations for a Better Oregon
6. 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
7. THE ISSUES:
Highly qualified teachers are critical to raising student
achievement
Oregon loses 37% of its new teachers within the first five
years, at a cost of $45 million per year
Chalkboard’s response:
• Provide each new teacher and principal
with mentors
• Establish statewide public/private
partnership (Oregon Collaborative for
Educational Excellence) to strengthen
ongoing professional development for
educators
An Initiative of Foundations for a Better Oregon
8. THE ISSUES:
Students must be readers by the end of third grade or face
long odds in school and life
Oregon class sizes are among the highest in the nation
Less than one-third of Oregon
fourth-graders are proficient at
reading, according to a national exam
Chalkboard’s response:
• Reduce class size to 15 in K-1
• Provide a reading tutor to every child not
reading at grade level in K-3
• Provide placeholder funding for future
middle/high school interventions
An Initiative of Foundations for a Better Oregon
9. THE ISSUES:
40% of Oregonians believe schools already have all the money
they need, and just need to be more efficient
Oregon spends 60% more than the national average on school
business operations, and has higher per-student transportation
costs than other Western states
Chalkboard’s response:
• Enhance the Open Book$ Web site
(www.openbooksproject.org) to
show citizens how districts spend
money
• Identify and share best financial practices with all districts, and
monitor districts regularly
• Restructure transportation funding formula to encourage more
busing cost efficiency
An Initiative of Foundations for a Better Oregon
10. THE ISSUE:
Oregon has one of the most unstable school funding
structures in the country
82% of Oregonians agree that funding instability is an
obstacle to school success
Chalkboard’s response:
• Double the size of the state’s
school stability fund, and use a
combination of sources, including
the corporate “kicker,” to fill it
• Establish a guaranteed level of per-student spending that
maintains current services and invests in more research-
proven practices
An Initiative of Foundations for a Better Oregon
11. Meanwhile, we’re also working on . . .
• Enhancing the Open Book$ Web site
(www.openbooksproject.org)
• Continuing efforts to better connect parents and other
citizens with schools through grants and partnerships
• Continuing research on long-term priorities, such as
charter school enhancements, open enrollment and
school funding structure/tax reform
An Initiative of Foundations for a Better Oregon
12. Pilot projects of promising practices
CLASS Project
Creative Leadership and Student Success
• Grants awarded to 3 school districts in March to test
new career paths and salary structures for teachers
• Sherwood
• Forest Grove
• Tillamook
• Planning through summer; implementation to begin fall
2007
• Possible second round of grants fall 2007
An Initiative of Foundations for a Better Oregon
13. Foundations for a Better Oregon
Foundation Collaboration
Media Relations Education Reform
Initiatives
Lobbying and
Government Relations Public Involvement/
Civic Engagement
Best Practices
Research Stakeholder Relations
An Initiative of Foundations for a Better Oregon