Press Release Details
SFUSD, Spark* SF Public Schools and National Nonprofit DonorsChoose Announce New Partnership
The San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) and SFUSD’s non-profit partner Spark* SF Public Schools, announced a new partnership with the national nonprofit DonorsChoose to help teachers tap into a network of 4 million donors to support classroom projects and more seamlessly align with district strategy and operations.
By giving teachers the ability to design and promote their own initiatives, DonorsChoose helps SFUSD teachers improve their students’ experience directly. To date, SFUSD teachers have raised $7.8 million and completed over 10,500 projects from over 120 schools on DonorsChoose. These projects range from purchasing ChromeBooks for Spanish Immersion lessons, to adding new furniture and healthy snacks, to counseling centers, to funding field trips that expand learning outside of the classroom.
As one of the 30 members of the DonorsChoose District Partnership Program, SFUSD will be able to fully support teachers in the use of the platform, ensure safety and security, and align efforts with the district’s strategic priorities. SFUSD will be able to monitor all donated materials, and principals will be notified each time a project is funded and receive an early notification when there are new “match” funding opportunities.
“We’re very excited to join the DonorsChoose District Partnership Program because it opens up new opportunities for teachers to fund projects that will help them provide the kind of educational experiences our students need to be prepared to thrive in the 21st Century,” said Dr. Vincent Matthews, Superintendent of SFUSD. “By partnering with DonorsChoose, we can better support SFUSD teachers who are creating lessons that increase students’ excitement about coming to school every day.”
“DonorsChoose allows members of the SFUSD community and beyond to directly support our teachers’ requests,” said SFUSD Board of Education President Stevon Cook. “Given the success SFUSD teachers and projects have already found through DonorsChoose, it is encouraging to consider the new resources that this new level of partnership can unlock.”
About DonorsChoose
Since 2000, more than 4 million people and partners have contributed $900 million to support 1.5 million teacher requests for classroom resources and experiences. As the most trusted crowdfunding platform for teachers, donors, and district administrators alike, DonorsChoose vets each request, ships the funded resources directly to the classroom, and provides thank yous and reporting to donors and school leaders. Charity Navigator and GuideStar have awarded DonorsChoose, a 501(c)3 non-profit, their highest ratings for transparency and accountability. For more information, visit www.donorschoose.org/sfusd.
About SFUSD and Spark* SF Public Schools
Serving over 53,000 students across 133 schools, SFUSD’s mission is to provide every student the quality instruction and equitable support required to thrive in the 21st century. The district, along with its non-profit organization Spark* SF Public Schools, is committed to helping all students develop strong academic knowledge and skills, as well as the dispositions and behaviors to increase their curiosity and engagement, activate their full potential for learning, and prepare them for life, work, and study beyond their secondary school years.
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Page updated on 11/22/19