Knowing the right thing to do is only one part of the puzzle. Equally important is converting those goals and promises into reality. At the Fund, we do both. We support our City Schools partners as they formulate their key strategies, and then work closely to facilitate their effective implementation throughout the school district, and its schools and classrooms.

We have helped design and implement new funding mechanisms and performance management tools. For over seven years, we’ve been one of the City Schools’ key partners for reforming and establishing new, high quality secondary schools. We supported the introduction of choice, giving all high school students and their families the freedom to select the school they want to attend. Plus, we are now working closely with City Schools and a variety of other community partners to support college readiness and post-secondary success for all of Baltimore’s students. In this way, we are helping to build both the culture and  infrastructure that supports all students’ learning in preparation for life after high school graduation.

In fostering sustainable reform, our efforts are guided by three main elements:

• Helping our partners make better decisions by providing them the right information at the right time;

• Improving educational options and outcomes for all students; and

• Providing our partners with research and expertise about the best practices currently underway in districts across the country.