Redwood City has a very diverse population. With that come challenges such as serving various needs and addressing inequity across Redwood City School District (RCSD) schools.

Community schools like Hoover, Garfield, and Taft promote student success by focusing on the broad community context in which education and learning happen. The fundamental belief guiding this approach is that schools, families, and communities can work together for their common good.

Most RCSD schools have strong Parent Teacher Organizations (PTOs), which benefits those schools greatly for several reasons:

• Builds strong relationships: PTOs can help build strong relationships between parents and teachers. This partnership can lead to better communication, understanding, and cooperation between teachers and parents, ultimately benefiting the students.

• Increased involvement: When parents are involved in their child's education, the child is more likely to perform better academically. PTOs increase parent involvement by allowing parents to volunteer and participate in school events.

• Fundraising: PTOs help raise crowdfund to support various school programs, including field trips, school supplies, and extracurricular activities. These funds can help improve the overall educational experience for students.

• Community building: PTOs can help build community among parents, teachers, and students. By organizing events and activities that unite families, PTOs create a supportive and welcoming environment for everyone in the school community.

• Advocacy: PTOs advocate for students and education at the local and state levels. By working with policymakers and other stakeholders, PTOs can help shape education policy and ensure that the needs of students are being met.

However, the schools RCEF supports don’t have established PTOs. Students at those schools cannot count on the benefits PTOs bring, including their fundraising efforts, creating a stark difference in financial strength amongst schools.

Think of your own experience with your children. What do you do when they need physical or mental health support, have a growing interest in a sport, want to pursue a new passion (art, music, etc.), or need extra assistance in a specific area? Many of us have the resources to seek specialized, tailored help and enrichment.

At RCEF-funded schools, families and caregivers work 2-3 jobs and need more financial resources to do this. What they do have is a strong, tight-knit community. Schools are at the heart of these communities. That is why RCEF partners with Community Schools to drive youth development and build neighborhood opportunities together.

Creating access can be a powerful equalizer:

• Logistical access: making opportunities accessible without needing transportation by placing them at their school.

• Linguistic access: ensuring resources, staff, and family center can support monolingual speakers of other languages.

• Economic access: making academic, social-emotional, and enrichment programs accessible at low cost.

While it may seem that Community Schools and RCEF-funded schools have many resources, it is only because access is being created in visible, collective spaces. Students from affluent neighborhoods are still exposed to more help and support, but it happens in private settings.

Local property taxes primarily funded California schools. School districts could set their tax rates, and the revenue from these taxes was used to support local schools. The state also provided some school funding, but this was a relatively small percentage of overall school funding.

This system of local property tax funding for schools led to significant disparities in funding between wealthy and poor districts. Wealthy districts with high property values could generate more school revenue, while more impoverished communities needed help to fund basic educational programs.

California Proposition 13, passed in 1978, significantly impacted education in California. Proposition 13 placed a cap on property tax rates, significantly reducing local governments' and school districts' property tax revenue.

The reduction in property tax revenue caused by Proposition 13 also led to significant cuts in school funding, resulting in larger class sizes, reduced instructional time, and fewer extracurricular programs.

In addition, Proposition 13 limited the ability of school districts to raise revenue through local taxes, making it difficult for communities to meet the needs of their students. California's financial education system went from one of the best in the country to one of the lowest-ranked school funding systems.

In the years since Proposition 13 was passed, the state has had to increase its school funding to compensate for the loss of revenue from local property taxes.

Here are some key sources of funding for California schools:

• State funding: California provides funding to schools for basic educational programs. Because state funds come in through income tax, school funding is volatile and can change depending on the economy.

• Federal funding: The federal government program, Title I provides funds to schools with a high percentage of low-income students.

• Local sources: Funds for individual schools come through property and parcel tax measures. Education Foundations were created to fill the gap in the district budget shortfall.

The money each school district gets from the State is tied to the number of students in each grade, student demographics, and student attendance.

Local funding levels can vary widely across school districts in California, with some districts receiving significantly more funding than others. This can be due to property values, affluence, and local tax policies supplementing Per-Pupil Budget.

As a result, some school districts in the Peninsula have nearly twice the resources for public education as the Redwood City School District.

These inequities make it more challenging for our district to retain quality teachers and create the best learning conditions. RCEF works to close the gap between the resources our district receives and the actual cost of educating our students. Yet, Redwood City remains the school district with the lowest level of local support.

All students should have access to the same high-quality education, regardless of their background or socio-economic status. However, in less affluent schools, there are often significant barriers along their education journey that can prevent students from achieving their full potential.

The accompanying graph shows the percentage of Unduplicated Pupil Count (UPC) for students who are eligible for Free or Reduced-Price Meal (FRPM), are English learners (EL), and who are foster youth across various districts.

For perspective, RCEF-funded schools have over 90% of students falling under the UPC category, drastically increasing their educational barriers compared to other students in the Peninsula.

Because of long-standing neighborhood segregation and systemic racism, districts with high UPC percentages serve primarily Black and Latinx students, presenting a severe equity problem.

Adequate education refers to a level sufficient to meet a student's needs and provide them with the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to lead a fulfilling and productive life.

When families' resources are low, the district's costs to make up for educational resource differences increase. The state does spend more in districts serving higher percentages of low-income students and English learners, but more is needed.

This graph shows that Redwood City School District requires 49% more funding to provide an adequate education. Creating a more equitable education system involves policy changes at the state and federal levels and community-level efforts to support schools and families.

RCEF establishes the program goal at the beginning of the school year and raises towards that goal throughout that year. Once the funds are raised, RCEF commits funds to the grantees and disburses in the following fiscal year for programs in the 2022-2023 school year.

A competitive Request For Application process was used to source grant proposals. Grants have been included in the goal based on advancing critical metrics identified in our Theory of Change.

RCEF focuses on serving underserved students. We are beginning our work with the three schools with the highest percentage of low-income students. As RCEF continues to grow its resources, we will consider funding additional schools. This matter is being considered as part of RCEF’s current strategic planning process.

While in-person volunteers are not allowed on school sites due to COVID-19 restrictions, RCEF will have volunteer opportunities available. Additionally, RCEF has several board committees that members of the community are welcome to serve. If you are interested in either of these volunteer roles, please contact RCEF.

You can download a summary of our Annual Fund here.

Think of your own experience with your children. What do you do when they need physical or mental health support, have a growing interest in a sport, or need extra assistance in a specific area? Many of us have the resources to seek specialized help and enrichment. However, families at RCEF-funded schools often work multiple jobs and need more financial resources for these opportunities.

RCEF partners with schools to drive youth development and build opportunities together. We create access in several ways:

• Logistical Access: Placing opportunities at schools to eliminate transportation needs.

• Linguistic Access: Supporting monolingual speakers of other languages.

• Economic Access: Offering low-cost academic, social-emotional, and enrichment programs.

RCEF bridges the gap between state funding and actual student needs, ensuring all students have access to essential resources and opportunities. By investing in our students, we strengthen the entire Redwood City community.

While your school’s Parent-Teacher Organizations/Associations (PTOs/PTAs) or supports specific programs and needs within your school, RCEF addresses broader district-wide challenges and inequities.

Many RCSD schools have strong PTO/PTAs, which build strong relationships between parents and teachers, increase parent involvement, and fundraise to support various school programs, including field trips, school supplies, and extracurricular activities. Thus, these organizations enhance the overall educational experience for students.

The schools RCEF supports—Hoover, Garfield, and Taft—lack PTO/PTAs, leading to unequal financial resources. Donating to RCEF ensures that each school can provide quality education and necessary resources.

Funds are distributed based on a thorough assessment of needs across the district to ensure equitable support.

The Thriving Schools Fund funds schools with higher needs and no Parent-Teacher Organizations (PTOs) so that under-resourced schools can become thriving. The Bridging the Gap Grants support underserved students in all RCSD schools, ensuring they have equal opportunities and access to resources as their peers. To increase the academic performance of students, our focus areas include:

• STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics)

• Literacy & Math Support

• Mental Health Services & Wellness

• Enrichment

• Essential Needs

• Family Partnerships

All our programs target under-resourced students and communities, providing the necessary support to overcome barriers and ensure every child has access to a quality education.

While your school’s PTO/PTA supports specific programs and needs within your school, RCEF addresses broader district-wide challenges and inequities. By giving to both, you help ensure that all schools in Redwood City, particularly those under-resourced, can provide quality education and essential resources. Moreover, your donation to RCEF may qualify for a match from your employer to help double your impact!

This year, we aim to raise $821,000 for a literacy and reading specialist, math support, tutors, mental health counselors, a behavioral specialist, and enrichment opportunities for students and families.

While neighboring education foundations ask between $1,500 - 3,300 per student, our average donation is $450. We encourage donors to give at a level that is meaningful to them.

Every donation makes a significant difference, no matter how big or small. Whether it's a one-time gift or a recurring donation, your support helps us continue our mission of providing equitable educational opportunities for all students in Redwood City.

Yes, RCEF undergoes independent audits every two years to ensure transparency and accountability in our financial practices. This process helps maintain the trust of our donors and the community by demonstrating that funds are managed responsibly and effectively.

The Redwood City School District relies on state funding, federal grants, and local property taxes, but these sources often fall short.

While public education is free, quality education comes at a cost that state funding alone cannot cover. Factors like historical funding limitations and Proposition 13 have left gaps in funding that must be filled to provide necessary resources and programs.

It takes a collective effort from the community to ensure every child receives a comprehensive and equitable education. Your donations help bridge this gap, funding essential programs and resources that enhance student learning and well-being.

California Proposition 13, passed in 1978, significantly impacted education in California. Proposition 13 placed a cap on property tax rates, significantly reducing local governments' and school districts' property tax revenue.

The reduction in property tax revenue caused by Proposition 13 also led to significant cuts in school funding, resulting in larger class sizes, reduced instructional time, and fewer extracurricular programs.

In addition, Proposition 13 limited the ability of school districts to raise revenue through local taxes, making it difficult for communities to meet the needs of their students. California's financial education system went from one of the best in the country to one of the lowest-ranked school funding systems.

Property taxes do contribute to school funding, but due to Proposition 13, the revenue generated is insufficient to meet all educational needs. Donations to RCEF help supplement these funds, allowing us to support programs and initiatives not fully covered by state funding.

Yes, many neighboring school districts, such as Menlo Park-Atherton, Palo Alto, Woodside, and Portola Valley, also raise significant funds to support their schools. These districts often have 2x more resources and can spend thousands more per student than Redwood City. Community donations to RCEF help level the playing field, ensuring our students can access similar opportunities and support.

Please mail your check to:

Redwood City Education Foundation

P.O. Box 3046

Redwood City, CA 94063

Many employers offer a Matching Gifts Program that can double or even triple your gift to RCEF. Some employee matching programs require submitting proof of a donation through a company portal, and then the company will provide match gifts. Other programs allow employees to donate through a company portal and have their donations matched automatically.

Don't know if your employer has a Matching Gift Program? Follow the steps and increase your gift to RCEF!

• Step 1: Find out if your company has a matching gift policy — talk to your employer or human resources department to get the matching gift form.​

• Step 2: Once you have the matching gift form, fill in the required fields. Here’s some information you might need:

  • Organization Name: Redwood City Education Foundation

  • Organization Mailing Address: PO Box 3046, Redwood City, CA 94063

  • Organization Website: www.rcef.org

  • Tax ID: 94–2903141

If you choose to donate stock or other assets that have increased in value, you can enjoy a double benefit in terms of tax savings. Firstly, as a donor, you will not be required to pay capital gains tax on the appreciated property. Secondly, you can claim an income tax deduction for the entire market value of the gift when it was made. The process of transferring securities is also hassle-free. If you decide to make a stock donation, kindly inform us at treasurer@rcef.org, and we will provide you with the necessary brokerage details.