Public schools in Northern California’s Bay Area are getting a big financial push from Mark Zuckerberg and his wife, Dr. Priscilla Chan. The couple has committed to donating $120 million by way of their Startup Eduction fund, the twosome announced early Friday (May 30).
Even though they live in Palo Alto –which houses one of the best public school systems in the country — Zuckerberg and Chan aren’t turning a blind eye to surrounding school districts.
From Facebook:
Today Priscilla and I are announcing a $120 million commitment to support high quality public schools for underserved communities in the Bay Area.
The Bay Area is one of the most prosperous places in the world, but there are so many schools here that don’t have the resources they need. Students from low income and minority backgrounds are the hardest hit, which means fewer end up graduating or attending college. Improving public education in our country and our community is something Priscilla and I really care about, and we want to change this.
The funds we’re committing today will be used to support new district and charter schools that give students more high quality choices for their education, to encourage innovation in the classroom, train a new generation of education leaders and support student development. We’ve listened to the needs of local educators and community leaders and we’re excited to support them.
Education is something worth investing in and something we care deeply about.
Zuck and Chan plan to unload the money over five years, and the first $5 million will be allotted specifically for technological upgrades in the classroom.
Four years ago Zuckerberg gave $100 million to help reform schools in Newark, N.J. Today, the schools systems haven’t changed much, and the money is almost gone.
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