New Investment Expands Envision Schools to Create More Opportunities for Underserved Students in California

SAN FRANCISCO -- Envision Schools’ staff, parents, and students today announced a new $6.9 million investment from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to open seven more Envision high schools in some of the state’s most disadvantaged school districts. This grant will complete an eight-school cluster of Envision charter schools in the Bay Area and fund five additional new schools throughout California by 2008.

Envision Schools develops and sustains a network of innovative, high-performing public high schools largely serving minority and low-income students, many of whom will be the first in their families to attend college. These schools consistently outperform neighboring schools serving similar students. At the Marin School of Arts & Technology (MSAT), students eclipsed 800 on California’s Academic Performance Index (API) and scored in the top 10 percent of schools with similar demographics. At City Arts & Technology High (CAT) in San Francisco, students posted an API gain of 90 points last year, eight times the average gain in California. Additionally, 88 percent of CAT’s first class of sophomores passed the English/Language Arts section, compared to 77 percent statewide.

“At a time when fewer than 30 percent of California’s students graduate ready for college, our students are excelling academically and will graduate high school prepared for success in college and life,” said Envision Schools president and CEO Daniel McLaughlin. “This new investment will enable us to serve even more students, providing them with a rigorous, high-quality education in a personalized, supportive environment.”

Despite the fact that today’s global economy increasingly requires highly skilled workers, 3,000 students—many from our urban centers—are dropping out of high school every day, and fewer than 20 percent of African-American and Latino students leave ready for college-level academics. Over a lifetime, a high school dropout will earn $1 million less than a college graduate; a single year’s graduating class will cost the nation more than $325 billion in lost wages, taxes, and productivity.

The Envision Schools model features small, academically rigorous high schools that use project-based learning, art, and technology to engage students in learning. All of the schools in the Envision network feature a rigorous, interdisciplinary curriculum aligned with the state university system’s requirements, strong student support, and intensive professional development for teachers and school leaders. Envision Schools students will qualify for entrance into the University of California system upon graduation.

As a charter management organization, Envision is able to replicate a proven school design, cluster its campuses, and share a wide range of support services, resources and expertise. Today’s investment builds on a $3.8 million grant from the Gates foundation in 2003 to develop the first six charter schools in the Bay area.

“Envision Schools offer students in some of California’s highest needs communities the opportunity for a high-quality college-prep education,” said Steve Seleznow, program director for education at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. “By holding all students to high expectations and supporting them academically and socially, these schools are posting significant gains and preparing all its students to succeed in college and career, regardless of income, ethnicity and background.” 

Envision Schools joins more than 1,800 foundation-supported high schools in 42 states and Washington, D.C. that are providing the “new 3Rs” —a rigorous curriculum for all students, relevant classes, and meaningful relationships with adults who can support all students to achieve. To date, the foundation has invested more than $1 billion to improve the nation’s high school system.

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Envision Schools
Envision Schools, a non-profit charter school management organization, engages diverse, urban students in a rigorous academic program with the objective of college graduation for all.  Envision’s commitment to underserved youth will help revitalize the American Dream of equal opportunity while building a scaleable model for growing systems of high-performing public high schools serving urban youth.