When State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson unveiled A Blueprint for Great Schools in August 2011, his ambitious reform agenda revealed the need for a non-profit entity to incubate and elevate promising statewide initiatives that otherwise lacked institutional capacity.
Since the inception of the Californians Dedicated to Education (CDE) Foundation, the Foundation has raised over $3.5 million to support innovative programs at the department and across the state including increasing access to professional development in STEM, supporting districts in the implementation of Common Core, and garnering resources to develop further recommendations for California on teacher support, STEM, and education technology.
With a small but committed staff, the CDE Foundation continues to grow, establish new partnerships, and ensure that its close working relationship with the California Department of Education and the State Board of Education leads to progress for California’s public schools.