The Walton Family Foundation is giving $8 million to Michelle Rhee’s StudentsFirst to add to the scores of millions of dollars it hands out each year to support the public education reform agenda of Walton family members.
The foundation says that in 2012, it handed out more than $158 million in funding for K-12 education reform initiatives focused on expanding charter schools and voucher programs. The big 2012 winners were (and you can see the whole list below):
- Charter Fund Inc. $14,900,000
- Teach For America (National) $11,445,000
- KIPP Foundation $8,374,000
- D.C. Public Education Fund, $5,919,229;
The $8 million to StudentsFirst is a new donation that will be awarded over two years, the foundation said in this release. It says that the money will allow Rhee’s advocacy group — which has been involved in more than 15 states in trying to enact corporate-based school reform over the past few years — to “expand its impact.”
The Walton Family Foundation is one of the three big family education philanthropies that have been donating big sums to drive specific education reforms; the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation are the other two. The Walton family, which founded and runs Wal-Mart, gives the most money to initiatives involving the school choice movement, such as vouchers and charter schools.
In 2011, the foundation gave more than $159 million in 16 metropolitan areas around the country to promote school choice. And it committed to giving $49.5 million to Teach For America over five years to double its teaching corps and $25.5 million over the same period to the KIPP charter school network to double the number of students it educates.
The amounts of money that wealthy philanthropists and private foundations have been donating to K-12 school reform has played a big role in shaping state and federal public education policy. This concerns critics who say that there is no public accountability when private donors put up money for programs of their choosing. Of course, public officials could refuse to take it, but they don’t.
There is particular concern among critics about money from the Walton family, in part because it has been successful in driving changes in its competitors.
Here are the list of education organizations that received money from the foundation in 2012, according to the foundation’s Web site:
K-12 Education Reform Grants in 2012
| Systemic K-12 Education Reform | $158,142,809 |
| Shape Public Policy | $60,920,186 |
| Create Quality Schools | $72,970,575 |
| Improve Existing Schools | $23,599,839 |
| Research and Evaluation | $652,209 |
| Shape Public Policy: | Amount |
| 50CAN, Inc | $1,650,000 |
| Agudath Israel of America, Inc. | 500,000 |
| Alliance for School Choice, Inc. | 1,700,000 |
| American Center for School Choice | 125,000 |
| American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research | 182,103 |
| Americans for Prosperity Foundation | 325,000 |
| Arizona Charter Schools Association | 586,475 |
| Arizona School Choice Administration Corporation | 100,000 |
| Association of American Educators Foundation | 512,000 |
| Association of Missouri Charter Schools | 326,300 |
| Barry Goldwater Institute for Public Policy Research | 200,000 |
| Beacon Center of Tennessee | 75,000 |
| Bellwether Education Partners | 185,000 |
| Black Alliance for Educational Options | 1,114,200 |
| Brookings Institution | 666,968 |
| California Charter Schools Association | 5,000,000 |
| Center for Education Reform | 809,209 |
| Center of the American Experiment | 25,000 |
| Charter School Partners | 314,000 |
| Children First Fund- The Chicago Public School Foundation | 478,380 |
| Colorado League of Charter Schools | 245,000 |
| Colorado Nonprofit Development Center | 175,000 |
| Colorado Succeeds | 100,000 |
| Commonwealth Foundation for Public Policy Alternatives | 25,000 |
| Connecticut Coalition for Achievement Now Inc. | 450,000 |
| Douglas County School District | 300,000 |
| Editorial Projects in Education | 250,000 |
| Education Pioneers | 547,928 |
| Education Reform Now, Inc. | 500,000 |
| Education Sector Inc. | 220,000 |
| Education Trust-West | 360,000 |
| Education Writers Association | 100,000 |
| Educators for Excellence | 156,602 |
| EdVoice Institute for Research and Education | 400,000 |
| Families Empowered | 400,000 |
| Families for Excellent Schools, Inc. | 218,000 |
| Florida Charter School Alliance | 168,345 |
| Foundation for Excellence in Education | 1,000,000 |
| Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice, Inc. | 465,000 |
| Friends of Choice in Urban Schools | 737,434 |
| George W. Bush Foundation | 159,000 |
| Georgetown University | 1,634,419 |
| Georgia Charter Schools Association Inc. | 840,000 |
| Georgia Family Education and Research Council, Inc. | 100,000 |
| Georgia Public Policy Foundation | 135,000 |
| GREAAT Schools Inc | 193,400 |
| GreatSchools Inc. | 4,300,000 |
| Harvard University | 454,790 |
| Hispanic Council for Reform and Educational Options | 292,000 |
| Illinois Network of Charter Schools | 1,023,000 |
| Illinois Policy Institute | 50,000 |
| Independence Institute | 40,000 |
| Indiana Public Charter Schools Association Inc. | 392,529 |
| Institute for Innovation of Public School Choice | 265,845 |
| Institute For Justice | 525,568 |
| James Madison Institute for Public Policy Studies, Inc. | 40,000 |
| John K. Maclver Institute for Public Policy, Inc. | 75,000 |
| LA Voice | 100,000 |
| Los Angeles Parent Union | 2,521,369 |
| Louisiana Association of Public Charter Schools | 586,280 |
| Mackinac Center | 50,000 |
| Michigan Association of Public School Academies | 426,085 |
| Marquette University | 289,468 |
| Massachusetts Charter Public School Association | 350,000 |
| MICAH Project | 152,500 |
| Milwaukee Charter School Advocates | 235,027 |
| Morehouse College | 300,000 |
| National Alliance for Public Charter Schools | 1,250,000 |
| National Conference of State Legislatures | 147,500 |
| National Council on Teacher Quality | 25,000 |
| National Governor’s Association Center for Best Practices | 225,000 |
| National Public Radio | 1,400,000 |
| National Right to Work Legal Defense and Education Foundation | 83,333 |
| New Jersey Charter Public Schools Association | 354,161 |
| New Schools for Chicago | 220,000 |
| New Schools for New Orleans Inc. | 1,229,570 |
| New York Charter Schools Association | 725,000 |
| Newark Charter School Fund | 1,875,000 |
| NewSchools Venture Fund | 1,100,000 |
| Nova Southeastern University Inc | 25,000 |
| Oakland Community Organizations | 200,000 |
| Ohio Alliance of Public Charter Schools | 382,706 |
| Pahara Institute | 500,000 |
| Parents for Educational Freedom in North Carolina | 600,000 |
| Partnership for Los Angeles Schools | 193,780 |
| Pennsylvania Coalition of Public Charter Schools | 150,000 |
| People Acting in Community Together | 200,000 |
| Philanthropy Roundtable | 115,000 |
| PICO National Network | 200,000 |
| Pioneer Institute, Inc. | 211,150 |
| Public Education and Business Coalition | 164,026 |
| Reason Foundation | 75,000 |
| Regents of the University of Colorado | 65,756 |
| Rhode Island Mayoral Academies | 500,000 |
| School Choice Indiana | 320,000 |
| School Choice Ohio | 605,000 |
| School Choice Wisconsin | 300,000 |
| Show-Me Institute | 25,000 |
| Silicon Valley Community Foundation | 250,000 |
| Stand for Children Leadership Center | 343,402 |
| Stand for Children Leadership Center (Indiana affiliate) | 278,189 |
| Stand Up | 300,000 |
| Step Up for Students | 644,000 |
| Students for Education Reform | 250,000 |
| StudentsFirst Institute | 2,000,000 |
| Success Academy Charter Schools | 1,000,000 |
| Tennessee Charter Schools Association | 268,126 |
| Texas Charter Schools Association | 725,000 |
| Texas Public Policy Foundation | 25,000 |
| Thomas B. Fordham Institute | 650,000 |
| United Negro College Fund, Inc. | 1,490,523 |
| University of Arkansas Foundation Inc | 329,125 |
| University of Notre Dame | 384,228 |
| University of Washington Foundation – Center on Reinventing Public Education | 700,000 |
| Urban League of Greater New Orleans | 491,300 |
| Women in Government Foundation | 100,088 |
| Shape Public Policy Total | $60,920,186 |
| Create Quality Schools: | Amount |
| 4.0 Schools | $646,467 |
| Academy 360 | 250,000 |
| Academy for Global Citizenship Charter School | 250,000 |
| ACE Charter High School | 250,000 |
| Amandla Charter School | 250,000 |
| Apple Academy Charter Public Schools | 250,000 |
| ARC4H Academy | 250,000 |
| Arizona Autism Charter Schools, Inc. | 30,000 |
| Aurora Collegiate Academy Charter School | 220,000 |
| Better Learning Communities | 220,000 |
| Bridges Public Charter School | 30,000 |
| Brighter Choice Foundation | 945,000 |
| Brilla College Preparatory Charter School | 250,000 |
| Building Excellent Schools, Inc | 3,240,050 |
| Building Hope | 1,800,000 |
| Camino Nuevo Elementary No. 3 | 250,000 |
| Carmen High School of Science and Technology | 333,333 |
| Carpe Diem Collegiate High School – Meridian Campus | 250,000 |
| Catalyst-Maria Charter | 220,000 |
| Central Queens Academy Charter School | 250,000 |
| Challenge Foundation Academy | 30,000 |
| Charter Fund, Inc. | 14,900,000 |
| Charter School Growth Fund – Louisiana | 2,000,000 |
| Children’s Scholarship fund | 8,212,000 |
| Christel House DORS | 220,000 |
| Christian Musical Skill Center dba The Performing Arts Conservatory | 30,000 |
| Christopher House Charter School | 220,000 |
| City Year Inc | 773,000 |
| Collegiate Academy 1 | 250,000 |
| Collegiate Academy 2 | 250,000 |
| Colorado Nonprofit Development Center | 40,000 |
| Columbus Collegiate Academy – West Campus | 220,000 |
| Cristo Rey Network | 920,000 |
| DC Preparatory Academy | 199,000 |
| DC Scholars Academy | 250,000 |
| Delta Charter School of Math, Science and Technology | 30,000 |
| Democracy Prep III Charter School | 250,000 |
| Downtown Charter School, Inc. | 250,000 |
| Downtown Denver Expeditionary School | 250,000 |
| Educational Enterprises, Inc. | 1,225,000 |
| Empower College Prep | 220,000 |
| ENCORE Academy | 250,000 |
| Exalt Education | 267,500 |
| Excel Academy Charter School – Boston II | 250,000 |
| Excel Academy Public Charter School | 250,000 |
| Excellent Education Development, Inc. | 250,000 |
| Fannie C. Williams Charter School | 250,000 |
| Future is Now: New Orleans Charter School | 250,000 |
| Gals the Girls Athletic Leadership Schools | 30,000 |
| GEE Edmonson Academy | 250,000 |
| Graham Primary School | 220,000 |
| Hennepin Elementary School | 220,000 |
| Hinds Feet Montessori School of the Arts, Inc. | 30,000 |
| IFF | 248,886 |
| Ingenuity Prep Public Charter School | 250,000 |
| International Preparatory Academy – MacDowell Campus | 250,000 |
| Intrepid Preparatory Charter School | 220,000 |
| JS Clark Leadership Academy | 250,000 |
| KIPP Foundation | 8,374,000 |
| Lafayette Preparatory Academy Charter School | 250,000 |
| Lighthouse Academies of Wisconsin, Inc | 150,000 |
| Local Initiatives Support Corporation | 5,447,697 |
| Low Income Investment Fund | 150,000 |
| Lutheran High School Association of Greater Milwaukee | 59,000 |
| Lutheran Urban Mission Initiative Inc. | 375,000 |
| Mastery School | 250,000 |
| Math and Science Preparatory Charter High | 220,000 |
| McDonogh 42 | 250,000 |
| Mind Trust | 500,000 |
| Nashville Classical Charter School | 220,000 |
| New Leaders | 800,000 |
| NewSchools Venture Fund | 612,500 |
| Notre Dame Middle School | 375,000 |
| Oakland Academy Charter School | 30,000 |
| Pacific Charter School Development, Inc. | 2,160,000 |
| Partners for Developing Futures, Inc | 565,000 |
| Paul Public Charter School | 250,000 |
| Peoria Charter School Initiative | 250,000 |
| Phoenix Collegiate Academy | 250,000 |
| Pride and Promise Academy | 30,000 |
| Prodeo Academy | 250,000 |
| Purpose Preparatory Charter School | 220,000 |
| Rise Ko Hyang Middle School | 250,000 |
| Rise Together Ministries | 30,000 |
| Rocketship Education | 225,000 |
| Rowe Elementary Charter School | 250,000 |
| Santa Monica Boulevard Community Charter School | 250,000 |
| Schools For The Future Detroit | 30,000 |
| Schools That Can Milwaukee, Inc. | 225,000 |
| Seventh and Sourou Gentlemen’s Academy | 30,000 |
| St. HOPE Public Schools | 250,000 |
| Starr Detroit Academy | 250,000 |
| Tennessee Charter School Incubator | 707,331 |
| The Excel Center at Franklin Road | 250,000 |
| The Friends of King School | 250,000 |
| The Montessori School of Englewood | 220,000 |
| The Savannah Classical Academy | 250,000 |
| Trevista ECE-8th Grade at Horace Mann | 249,811 |
| United Community Center, Inc. | 180,000 |
| University of Notre Dame | 500,000 |
| University Prep Science and Math Elementary School | 220,000 |
| UNO Charter School Network | 500,000 |
| Upper Mississippi Academy | 250,000 |
| West Side Summit | 250,000 |
| Westside Atlanta Charter School | 30,000 |
| Wisconsin Lutheran High School | 150,000 |
| Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation | 475,000 |
| Create Quality Schools Total | $72,970,575 |
| Improve Existing Schools: | Amount |
| Achievement Network, LTD | $62,500 |
| Arizona Charter Schools Association | 150,000 |
| California Charter Schools Association | 1,150,000 |
| Center for Better Schools | 275,000 |
| Charter Board Partners | 177,750 |
| DC Public Charter School Board | 498,729 |
| DC Public Education Fund | 5,919,229 |
| Denver Public Schools | 218,750 |
| Denver Scholarship Foundation | 116,192 |
| Illinois State Charter School Commission | 100,000 |
| Lutheran Urban Mission Initiative Inc. | 60,000 |
| National Association of Charter School Authorizers | 1,750,000 |
| New Teacher Project | 1,000,000 |
| Northwest Evaluation Association | 42,500 |
| Ohio Alliance of Public Charter Schools | 34,190 |
| Teach for America (National) | 11,445,000 |
| University of Notre Dame | 400,000 |
| Wisconsin Lutheran College | 200,000 |
| Improve Existing Schools Total | $23,599,839 |
| Research and Evaluation | Amount |
| Hoover Institution, Stanford University | $151,334 |
| University of Notre Dame | 113,000 |
| University of Southern California | 147,935 |
| University of Wisconsin – Madison | 239,940 |
| Research and Evaluation Total | $652,209 |
| K-12 Education Reform and Other Education Grants Total | $158,142,80 |