Education

The education pipeline begins at birth and continues through all levels of school and right into the workforce. This is where the next generation acquires the tools they need to become the artists, educators, entrepreneurs, scientists and community leaders of tomorrow. Unfortunately, too many are getting lost along the way.

Children who attend a quality preschool score up to 40 percent higher on academic tests, yet less than half of low-income 3- and 4- year olds attend a publicly funded early learning program. Vulnerable student populations like English learners and students of color face particular challenges. They are less likely to score well on standardized tests, take advanced placement courses and go to college. And those who do enter higher education too often don’t graduate. At a time when a bachelor’s degree leads to a million dollar increase in lifetime earnings, that’s a tremendous loss for all of us.

Since 2000, CCF has committed $4.2 million to ensuring a future in which every child has access to quality early education through programs like the Los Angeles Preschool Advocacy Initiative. Launched in partnership with the David and Lucille Packard Foundation, the initiative brings together parents and nonprofits to advocate for increased access to high-quality preschool for all L.A. children.

If we want our children to realize their potential, we need to ensure they have the resources they need to succeed. We support expanded transparency in how education dollars are allocated to reach students and communities with the greatest needs. And by expanding access to and success in the courses necessary to attend college, we hope to close the opportunity gaps faced by far too many of our students.

English learners are multilingual assets in the community, yet they are less likely to score well on standardized tests, take advanced placement courses and go to college. We seek to advance English learner success by supporting policies and improvement networks of elementary schools using evidence-based approaches that strengthen the academic success, social-emotional development and opportunities for this critical population of students.

Together with the College Futures Foundation and other devoted investors throughout the county, we also launched the $15 million Los Angeles Scholars Investment Fund (LASIF). Since 2012, LASIF has helped tens of thousands of low-income L.A. students prepare for, pay for and succeed in college. And through CCF’s Promises that Count and Committed to College Completion initiatives, we’re expanding and improving college promise programs at the community college level and promoting policies that improve college success throughout Los Angeles.

For more information, visit our education resource library.

To join with CCF in closing the gaps in the education pipeline and realizing the potential of our children, click the button below.

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