The Redwood City Education Foundation
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Who We Are

We are an all-volunteer, non-profit organization, dedicated to providing students in the Redwood City School District (RCSD) with a strong education that lays the foundation for future success. We have been active since 1983 raising funds for a variety of academic and music programs. Recently we have expanded and strengthened our school and community connections and increased the number of programs we fund to provide our students.

We are deeply committed to providing the best education possible for our children, while helping the community understand the issues facing our schools. 

Our theme, Better Schools, Brighter Future, means that we are dedicated to helping our children grow up to be well-educated, engaged, successful citizens. Working together as a community, we can make it happen.

What We Do

We raise private money to support programs that our children need for the best education possible, including:

  • Kindergarten orientation and assessment
  • Reading support with LeapPad systems for kindergarten through 2nd graders
  • Music lessons through Music for Learning for 2nd through 4th graders
  • Outdoor Education science camp for all 5th graders
  • Financial help for buying instruments for the music program for 5th through 8th graders
  • Wellness coordinator to help teachers provide health and fitness lessons and activities
  • Teacher training through National Board Certification
  • Community outreach through lectures, publications, and our website

Why We Exist

Between standardized testing and budget restraints, schools in California are no longer able to provide what were formerly considered to be core subjects, such as music, art, and PE.

Schools also face a serious gap between the demands made on them by an increasingly diverse population and the funds they receive from state and federal governments. Every school district in the state has a unique set of challenges, but one thing many have in common is a community-based education foundation.

Education foundations, like the RCEF, are important partners with parent organizations in closing the funding gap, to provide programs that governments no longer pay for. In our area, all the highest-achieving districts have active, engaged education foundations working closely with parents and schools to raise money to provide their students with a well-rounded, high-quality education.

Education foundations also offer a unique opportunity for the community to exercise local control over education spending. Because of federal and state government mandates, much of the education budget is already spoken for. School districts that want to provide programs not directly called for by the state or federal government typically turn to their local education foundation for help. There are only two ways communities in California can financially contribute to their school districts and keep local control -- through parcel tax initiatives and through education foundations.

Our Vision for the Future

Our vision for the future sees students, parents, and the community at large all benefiting from our work to improve Redwood City's public schools:

  • Every student is receiving a top-notch education and is achieving his or her potential.
  • Every parent is actively involved in his or her child's education and feels good about it.
  • Every community member--students, parents, teacher, residents, and local businesses--knows about school issues and is positive about the district.

How Parents Can Support The RCEF

Take the time to understand the RCEF's mission and how it differs from your own parent-teacher group's fund raising goals.

Be an ambassador for the RCEF to the school community - explain who we are, what we do, and how we benefit your school.

Make a donation of time or money to support our goals.

Encourage other parents to give to the RCEF above and beyond their contribution to their school--even if it is just a small donation!  A note from your parent-teacher group or Site Council in the principal's newsletter, for example, would go a long way toward encouraging parents to add their support to the RCEF.

And remember, all of our board members and volunteers are parents or community members, too. We are working hard on the behalf of all of our children because all our children deserve the best education we can provide.

Where to learn more about the RCEF

Please visit our website at www.rcef.org to learn more about us.

10 REASONS TO GIVE TO THE RCEF

  1. You understand that good schools don't just happen--communities decide to make education a priority!  The highest-achieving districts in our area--Palo Alto, Menlo Park, San Carlos-all have successful education foundations with high participation by parents and the community.
  2. You want to say thanks!  You are happy with the education your child has received--or you received--and you want to contribute to that legacy.
  3. You are proud of your community. You know that Redwood City is a great place to live, and you want the quality of the schools to reflect the high quality of life here.
  4. You believe that giving to our schools makes our community strong. Strong communities have low crime rates, good schools, a thriving economy, healthy real estate prices, excellent services, and a sense of pride.
  5. You support your local school and now you want to make a contribution that serves the entire school district.  Since our community does not have a parcel tax, the only way to give to district-wide educational programs is through the RCEF.
  6. You are frustrated with the low level of funding provided by the state of California. You want to ensure that your kids, and the kids of the community, have programs like music, art, and PE, that were once standard, but are no longer funded by the state.
  7. You want to invest in your future and the future of your children. Wouldn't it be nice if many of the doctors, dentists, small business owners and service professionals 20 years from now were home-grown kids?
  8. You believe that all kids deserve a good education!
  9. You know it is the right thing to do. You want to make a difference in the life of a child who has fewer educational opportunities. 
  10. We can do better. And you want to be a part of it.  Most education foundations in our county have a parent donor participation rate of 25%-80%--ours has increased significantly, but is still only at 15%.