Who We Are

Educate78 is a 501(c)(3) Oakland-based nonprofit organization that seeks to improve public education for all kids across our city’s 78 square miles. We do so by coaching teachers and school leaders, amplifying parent and community voices, raising funds to invest in Oakland schools, making grants to organizations closest to and best prepared to solve problems, raising awareness of the challenges and solutions, and taking direct action to make progress for all Oakland kids.

Leading up to 2015: Origin

Educate78 was founded in 2015 by an Oakland parent who had led many successful K-12 education organizations, locally and nationally. The vision was to bring greater innovation and better student outcomes, especially for underserved populations, to Oakland public education by growing successful schools, designing new innovative programs for high-need populations, improving training for new teachers and principals, and engaging parents.

2016-2018: Evolution

The Oakland public education landscape shifted repeatedly, with district leadership turnover, political turmoil, and financial shortfalls. Nevertheless, we were able to make progress to address persistent challenges:

• Better Enrollment
• New Parent Power
• Community of Schools Policy
• Greater Teacher Retention
• Needed & Innovative New Programs Launched
• Equity-Centered School Transformation

2019: To the Future

Educate78 is aiming towards our North Star. We passionately support empowered families with information and organizing; we diligently seek to advance our transformational schools effort with great guidance and support for teachers and leaders; and tenaciously pursue equitable systems, bringing district and charter together for all Oakland kids. In the decade starting in 2020, we will usher in a brighter, sustainable, and more successful era in Oakland public education.