What We Do

The Redwood City Education Foundation has supported students for over 40 years by providing additional funding and resources. Their goal is to bridge the gap between state funding and the actual cost of education. They also aim to address economic and learning barriers to success, promote equity among students, and reduce opportunity gaps.

Our Strategy

RCEF offers financial support, advocates for more resources and evidence-based practices, and engages directly with the community. These combined efforts support under-resourced schools, helping to create vibrant, thriving learning environments. As the learning environment at the school improves with an infusion of needed resources, RCEF anticipates that students will become more engaged on campus and in the classroom, develop critical social-emotional skills, and increase their overall academic performance.

Financial Support

We support students by investing in targeted programs that improve reading and math scores and strengthen student engagement and social-emotional learning.

Advocacy

We advocate for increases in per-pupil funding for all schools in RCSD by driving coalitions to support policies impacting underserved students and monitoring revenue-generating opportunities.

Community Engagement

We engage with the community to better understand the needs of schools and families. We share learning and best practices by creating opportunities for connections between families and schools.

Addressing Inequity

100% of our programs target the 1,600 students at Hoover, Garfield, and Taft Community Schools.

To best address the inequities in education and reduce disparities in student outcomes, RCEF stewards resources to the most under-resourced schools and have no Parent Teacher Organizations to help fund critical programs.

These three schools have the most significant percentages of low-income students, defined as students who qualify for Free and Reduced-Price Lunch (FRPL) and those identified as English-Language Learners in the Redwood City School District.

Community Schools 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. Community schools draw from several disciplines, such as education and youth development.

Read RCEF Summary

Inequality

Unequal access to opportunities

Equality

Evenly distributed tools and assistance

Equity

Custom tools that identify and address inequality

Justice

Fixing the system to offer equal access to both tools and opportunities

School Funding Facts

How does RCEF’s funding cycle work?

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.
How did RCEF select these programs?

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.
Why is RCEF not funding other schools in the District?

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.
Can I volunteer?

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.
Summary of Campaign

You can download a summary of our Annual Fund here.

CALIFORNIA SCHOOL FUNDING

How does RCEF’s funding cycle work?

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.
How did RCEF select these programs?

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.
Why is RCEF not funding other schools in the District?

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.
Can I volunteer?

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.
Summary of Campaign

You can download a summary of our Annual Fund here.