Past Programs

Individuals who have access to quality education throughout primary and secondary school are more likely to graduate, find gainful employment, have stable families, and be active and productive citizens. They are also less likely to commit serious crimes, less likely to place high demands on the public health care system, and less likely to enroll in welfare assistance programs. Investing in public education is thus far more cost-effective for the state than paying for the social and economic consequences of under-funded, low quality schools.

The Philadelphia Education Fund's Education First Compact partnered with The Philadelphia Cross City Campaign for School Reform to develop the Philadelphia Effective Teaching Campaign. The campaign stipulates that all students in Philadelphia have the right to effective teachers, regardless of grade or subject matter. The Campaign lists several critical changes needed to ensure that we maximize teaching quality and achieve equity.

In December 2003, the School District of Philadelphia contracted with the Philadelphia Education Fund to be Lead Facilitator in the development of a new core curriculum in Literacy, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies between January 1, 2003 and December 31, 2004.

The Middle Grades Matter Campaign (MGM) was created by the Philadelphia Education Fund in 2003 with initial support from GlaxoSmithKline and program dollars from the School District of Philadelphia. The campaign operated until 2006 to improve middle-level education in Philadelphia as a way to boost district-wide success.