In order to deliver high-quality early childhood education (ECE) programs at scale, there must be a coherent state ECE system that delivers services efficiently and effectively to the families that need them the most. The long-term goal of the Effective Governance of State ECE Systems major initiative is to support states in creating robust, functional… Continue Reading
California is endowed with a wealth of cultural and linguistic diversity. An estimated 60 percent of children under age 5 speak a language other than English at home, and the state’s early childhood education system enrolls more of these bilingual learners than any other in the United States. However, stark opportunity and outcome gaps exist… Continue Reading
The Heising-Simons Foundation’s Education program invests in opportunities that seek to break the link between demography and outcomes. One area of focus for this strategy is elevating family voices to improve public services for families of young children in California, and ensure children receive the early experiences that support their long-term learning and development. In… Continue Reading
The Heising-Simons Foundation is proud to regularly see its grantee partners featured in media outlets across the country, providing an expert voice on a timely issue or being highlighted for their accomplishments and hard work. Here are some news items that have featured our grantees in December 2019.
The Heising-Simons Foundation is proud to regularly see its grantee partners featured in media outlets across the country, providing an expert voice on a timely issue or being highlighted for their accomplishments and hard work. Here are some news items that have featured our grantees in November 2019.
Parent Voices is a project of The California Child Care Resource and Referral Network. Parent Voices is a partnership of parents throughout California that works to improve access to child care for all families in their communities. This grant provides project support over three years for Parent Voices to build on its decades-long leadership in… Continue Reading
In 2017, we launched 51 Pegasi b, a postdoctoral fellowship program providing exceptional scientists with the opportunity to conduct theoretical, observational, and experimental research in planetary astronomy. But despite the Foundation’s genuine commitment to advance women in the fields of physics and astronomy, we encountered serious diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) challenges. Determined to do better,… Continue Reading
Cyndi Atherton, the Foundation’s director of Science, has been appointed to the Board on Atmospheric Sciences and Climate (BASC) of the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine.
Cultivating homegrown talent to serve as the next generation of executive directors for community nonprofits in Silicon Valley is challenging, due the high cost of living and lack of resources to run extensive leadership development programs. At the same time, it’s important for agencies critical to the region’s well-being to retain leadership talent rooted in, and reflective of, the communities they serve.