Our Insights
- Insight Briefs
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Public education in the United States was envisioned as a great equalizer: a way for every child, regardless of circumstance, to have a fair chance at a fulfilling life. In practice, however, that vision was never fully realized or universally…
- Resources
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Fewer, higher-quality AI tools aligned with evidence on effective instruction can better support reading and math. Implementation and coherence matter: well-integrated tools can accelerate learning, while poorly aligned ones can fragment instruction.
- Insight Briefs
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Originally posted on Frances Messano’s LinkedIn written in partnership with Tequilla Brownie, CEO, TNTP; Chong-Hao Fu, CEO, Leading Educators; Aylon Samouha, CEO, Transcend
An invitation to ideas
These are not normal times. The work to build new solutions in education…
- Resources
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A growing number of schools are rethinking teaching by treating student success and educator development as deeply connected. This post explores four school models showing how collaboration, shared leadership, and continuous learning can improve student outcomes while making teaching more…
- Announcements
NewSchools and Deloitte are helping education nonprofits explore mission-aligned strategic collaborations, including partnerships, shared services, and mergers. Through a survey, webinars, and future support, leaders can assess options to strengthen impact, sustainability, and long-term readiness.
- Announcements
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As we begin 2026, NewSchools is focused on two things: following through on our commitments, and learning in real time from the work our ventures are leading across the field. Underlying that is what will never change: our responsibility to…
- Insight Briefs
Artificial intelligence is expanding what’s possible in teaching and learning — while also introducing new complexity for educators and students. Drawing on conversations with more than 40 organizations at the forefront of AI in education, this brief explores how AI…
- Announcements
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A 2025 year-end reflection on how courageous educators, innovators, and 80 NewSchools ventures advanced student learning, from reading and math to AI-powered supports.
- Impact Story
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Our education system was never built with every learner in mind, especially students who learn and think differently. One in five students has a learning difference, yet most classrooms and tools still aren’t designed for them, limiting their ability to…
- Resources
See lessons from six high-performing schools and is designed for educators, funders, and policymakers looking for evidence of what’s working in public schools today and practical guidance to strengthen their own efforts.
- Insight Briefs
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Today, AI tools are being adopted at twice the speed of the early Internet. Everyone in education is talking about how quickly we need to transform learning to prepare students for an AI-powered economy. But there’s an elephant in the…
- Press Releases
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NewSchools Venture Fund announced today more than $10 million in funding to help visionary educators and innovators reimagine what public education can be. The funding will support ideas that make teaching and learning more engaging, effective, and responsive to the…
- Announcements
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NewSchools is announcing more than $23 million in new investments and reinvestments to over 80 ventures, chosen from 1,600 applicants nationwide. At a time when it would be easy to pull back, innovators are stepping forward with courage, resilience, and…
- Resources
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In education, we’re often told we have to choose. Academic excellence or student well-being. Innovation or proven practice. Serving some students well or serving all students well. The schools we’re featuring in our new case study series prove those tradeoffs…
- Insight Briefs
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Discussions about the promise of AI in K-12 education are everywhere. Personalized learning. Instant feedback. Better outcomes at scale. But when it comes to helping students succeed in math, the reality is more complicated — and the solutions are far…
- Announcements
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AI is one of the most talked-about — and least understood — technologies in K-12 education today. While some see it as a silver bullet and others as a threat, NewSchools is taking a different stance: grounded optimism.
- Event Recap
Couldn’t attend Summit 2025 — or want to revisit your favorite moments? You can now watch full recordings of every mainstage and breakout session, along with presentation slides and two special videos that capture the energy of the event.
- Event Recap
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In the weeks since NewSchools Summit, I’ve been reflecting on a question that came up again and again: What does it look like to lead with courage in this moment? More often, it looks like the quiet resilience of education…
- Announcements
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Education is at a crossroads. Schools are facing tough decisions, policies are shifting rapidly, and recent data has uncovered an urgent opportunity for us to better support students in building the skills they need to succeed. For all of us…
- Reports
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In this report, you’ll get a snapshot of our impact in 2024: new investments, updates on how ventures improve student outcomes and scale their reach, and an overview of how NewSchools amplifies what’s working in education.
- Press Releases
We’re excited to announce a new funding opportunity focused on GenAI math tutoring solutions built on specialized foundation models. This initiative focuses on cutting-edge math tutoring solutions that can increase accuracy, lower costs, and make personalized, high-quality learning accessible to…
- Impact Story
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Here’s a look at some of the most interesting themes across our 2024 investing activity, as well as promising innovations that bring us closer to ensuring every student is prepared to thrive in school and in life.
- Impact Story
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America’s teachers face immense pressures, from high workloads to increasingly complex student needs, fueling a narrative of burnout and dissatisfaction. But what if we could change the story?
- Press Releases
NewSchools announces $10M in funding for visionary educators and innovators to transform public education. With a focus on reimagining what’s possible, NewSchools is committed to supporting leaders dedicated to creating new opportunities for students to thrive.
- Press Releases
NewSchools Venture Fund today announced $13.4 million in funding for 54 ventures tackling some of the most pressing challenges in public education, from building innovative schools to rethinking how teachers work. This investment is part of NewSchools’ three-year strategy to…
- Reports
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Despite signs of academic recovery, new data reveals that public school students, especially younger ones, are significantly behind, with achievement gaps widening between low-income and affluent students. As school leaders urgently seek solutions, it’s worth asking: What if the answers…
- Impact Story
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Learn why now is the time to reimagine teaching with innovative roles, AI, and new strategies to attract and retain a diverse, motivated educator workforce.
- Event Recap
NewSchools Summit is a premier annual event for social entrepreneurs, philanthropists, and education leaders. This year’s theme, “Education Fuels Progress,” focused on equipping attendees with hope, optimism, and actionable ideas to build an education system that delivers on its promise…
- Insight Briefs
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Even as the shadows of the pandemic recede and schools invest heavily in recovery efforts, students across the country continue to navigate an array of obstacles. Supporting their academic, social, and emotional development remains paramount.
- Impact Story
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Uncertainty about the future of K-12 education has ignited a debate: Should schools prioritize research-based instruction or an engagement-first strategy that centers student enthusiasm and curiosity?
- Impact Story
Ten years ago, Antoinette Banks was in Los Angeles navigating the educational system for her daughter with autism and ADHD. Her child, often seen through the lens of labels, was in reality brimming with untapped potential.
- Announcements
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In America, it remains all too predictable who gets a fair shot at life. Our education system should be a gateway to opportunity, yet it often acts as a barrier. While there’s no shortage of committed leaders and bright spots…
- Insight Briefs
Insights and actionable findings from three years of research on the specific social-emotional and school culture factors that matter most for academi…
- Event Recap
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Earlier this month, my organization, NewSchools Venture Fund, gathered venture leaders, staff, funders, and supporters from every chapter of our history to celebrate twenty-five years of impact.
- Impact Story
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If you’re only seeing the negative headlines about education, you might be missing out on the inspiring stories of progress and potential in the field.
- Announcements
NewSchools is in good company this year among peers in philanthropy and education who are celebrating milestone anniversaries or signaling deeper shifts in their strategy by announcing brand refreshes.
- Impact Story
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As a sibling of a person with severe disabilities and special educator for 20 years, I know firsthand the power in fully seeing our youth and providing them with their fundamental right to a real education.
- Impact Story
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From the beginning, NewSchools has pioneered new ways of funding innovation in public education. Today, I’m as convinced as ever that venture philanthropy still has a powerful role to play in advancing education and that we must lead with equity,…
- Impact Story
By Frances Messano, Chief Executive Officer
It’s an exc
- Press Releases
NewSchools Venture Fund introduced Frances Messano as its new Chief Executive Officer today. In 2022, Messano was appointed as successor to outgoing CEO, Stacey Childress, who stepped down after an accomplished eight year tenure.