Salesforce.org Announces $8.5 Million Grant to SFUSD

Press Release

San Francisco (September 25, 2018) - Salesforce.org announced it will donate $15.5 million towards San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) and Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) for the sixth and third year of partnerships, respectively. These investments will support middle school (grades 6-8) transformation, computer science expansion, wraparound support for newcomers, and college access programs. This investment marks more than $50 million towards Bay Area public schools since 2013.

"Salesforce.org has accelerated our progress toward ensuring that every SFUSD student graduates with the skills and knowledge to succeed in the Bay Area’s economy,” said Dr. Vincent Matthews, SFUSD Superintendent. “From third grade computer science to eighth grade math and beyond, our partnership with Salesforce.org has greatly expanded opportunities for our city’s children."

Over the last five years, Salesforce.org’s partnership with SFUSD has introduced technology into middle-grade classrooms, supported cutting-edge curriculum in math and computer science, and funded coaching to support teachers in engaging students. The new investment of $8.5 million to SFUSD will be used to:

• Support an innovative new teacher residency model for aspiring middle school teachers.

• Provide professional development for teachers in the AVID program, which supports students who will be the first in their families to attend college.

• Create and implement high-quality curriculum in math and computer science while utilizing technology to engage students.

• Develop summer programming for underserved students, including opportunities for African American students to participate in SFUSD’s Black Star Rising​ program.

• Deliver $100,000 per school of unrestricted funds to all 21 K-8 middle schools through the Principal’s Innovation Fund.

Since the partnership with SFUSD began in 2012, enrollment in computer science has grown and proficiencies in math achievement have increased:

• Over the past three years, enrollment in computer science increased by 2500 percent.

• Over the last two years, enrollment in advanced placement (AP) computer science tripled.

• Since last year, there has been an 18 percent reduction in D's and F's in middle school math classes.

Employees Go Beyond the Check with Circle the Schools

In addition to this partnership, Salesforce employees have adopted more than 34 schools in San Francisco and Oakland as part of the company’s Circle the Schools program. Employees participate in volunteer activities designed to advance student skills in literacy at the elementary school level, STEM in middle schools, and college and career readiness in high schools. Since the initiative began 2015, employees have dedicated more than 200,000 volunteer hours across more than 90 school campuses globally. This year, Salesforce employees pledged 100,000 volunteer hours towards Circle the Schools.

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Page updated on 09/25/18