Press Releases
See below for the latest announcements from NewSchools Venture Fund. For more information about NewSchools, members of the media should contact Julie Petersen, Communications Manager.
Simon Hess and Stacy Beardsley to Lead Turnaround Efforts at Low-Performing Schools Through ChicagoRise
Chicago, IL (May 16, 2008) – Chicago International Charter School (CICS) and NewSchools Venture Fund are pleased to announce the addition of Simon Hess and Stacy Beardsley to ChicagoRise, a new nonprofit education organization that will manage the turnaround of low-performing public schools in Chicago. Simon Hess joins ChicagoRise as the chief executive officer. Stacy Beardsley will serve as the chief academic officer. Together, Hess and Beardsley have more than twenty years of experience in the education arena.
Aspen Institute and NewSchools Venture Fund Name New Class of Fellows in Entrepreneurial Leaders for Public Education Program
Program recognizes entrepreneurial leaders ready to embrace the challenge of improving public educationSAN FRANCISCO, CA – May 19, 2008 – The Aspen Institute and NewSchools Venture Fund today launched the second year of the prestigious Entrepreneurial Leaders for Public Education Fellowship Program with the announcement of a new class of extraordinary Fellows. The program is designed to recognize and support exceptional entrepreneurial leaders who are prepared to address the crucial challenge of transforming public education.
National Venture Captial Association Joins NewSchools Venture Fund to Raise K-12 Education Infrastructure Fund
Financial and Human Capital Will be Invested in Education EntrepreneursMay 7, 2008 – Santa Clara, CA – The National Venture Capital Association (NVCA) and NewSchools Venture Fund today announced the creation of a multi-million dollar philanthropic venture fund focused on improving education in the United States. The NVCA-NewSchools K-12 Education Infrastructure Fund will invest in start-up organizations aiming to build high-performing public schools by developing innovative human capital solutions and performance tools.
Mathematica and CRPE Selected to Lead National Research Study on Charter Management Organization Effectiveness
Leading researchers to assess impact of fast-growing type of school organizationsSAN FRANCISCO, CA – March 17, 2008 – NewSchools Venture Fund and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation today announced the launch of an ambitious new longitudinal research study to measure the impact of nonprofit charter school management organizations (CMOs).
NewSchools Venture Fund Invests $1.7 Million in Uncommon Schools
Grant boosts organization's impact on public education in New York and New JerseySAN FRANCISCO – January 9, 2008 – NewSchools Venture Fund today announced an investment of up to $1.7 million in Uncommon Schools (Uncommon), a nonprofit charter management organization that provides an outstanding college preparatory education for students in New York and New Jersey. Coupled with earlier grants by NewSchools, this funding will help Uncommon to build upon its initial success in closing the achievement gap in these geographies by developing more than 20 additional schools over the next ten years.
The Broad Foundation Awards $5 Million to NewSchools Venture Fund
SAN FRANCISCO – May 21, 2007 -- NewSchools Venture Fund announced today that they have been awarded a new $5 million grant from The Broad Foundation. The funds will be used by NewSchools to continue to effect dramatic change in public education – particularly in urban areas where public school students have historically been underserved – by investing in public charter school management organizations and other entrepreneurial ventures working to increase the number and quality of public charter schools nationwide.
Aspen Institute and NewSchools Venture Fund Name First Class of Fellows in Entrepreneurial Leaders for Public Education Program
Program will recognize a new generation of entrepreneurial leaders ready to embrace the challenge of improving public educationSAN FRANCISCO, CA – May 24, 2007 —The Aspen Institute and NewSchools Venture Fund today launched the Entrepreneurial Leaders for Public Education Fellowship Program with the announcement of its inaugural class of Fellows from across the country. The program is designed to recognize and support a new generation of entrepreneurial leaders prepared to address the crucial challenge of transforming public education.
National Education Summit in New Orleans Addresses School Reform Strategies
Hosted by New Leaders for New Schools and NewSchools Venture FundNEW ORLEANS, LA – May 7, 2007 – New Leaders for New Schools, a nonprofit organization that recruits and trains outstanding principals and supports their schools in order to boost academic achievement and transform urban public schools, and NewSchools Venture Fund, a nonprofit venture philanthropy firm focused on transforming public education by supporting education entrepreneurs and connecting their work to systems change, today announced the convening of their 2007 National Summit in New Orleans, Louisiana. The four-day Summit, which began on Saturday with remarks by U.S.
NewSchools Venture Fund Invests $1.6 Million in Perspectives Charter Schools
April 9, 2007 — PRESS RELEASENew investment boosts organization's impact on public education in Chicago
Major New Investment Supports NewSchools Venture Fund's Efforts to Provide 200 High-Quality Charter Schools
October 9, 2006 — PRESS RELEASESan Francisco, Ca. - October 9, 2006 - A new $30 million investment in NewSchools Venture Fund will expand access to high-performing schools for thousands of students nationwide. The grant, from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, will allow NewSchools to boost the number of charter schools that focus on preparing students in historically underserved areas for success in college and careers by developing high-quality charter school management organizations.