Fresno Unified has been awarded an $8.2 million grant from The Wallace Foundation to develop and support a pipeline for equity-centered principals. Fresno Unified is among eight large, high-needs districts funded for the five-year endeavor. The Equity-Centered Pipeline Initiative is based on extensive research that effective principals have a strong, positive impact on students and schools.
Fresno Unified was selected through a rigorous, competitive process. The goal is to develop principals who can advance each district’s own vision of equity. The district, working with community and university partners, will also develop mentoring and training for current principals and vice principals.
The Wallace Foundation will conduct a series of independent research studies as the work proceeds to learn lessons on how the districts create principal pipelines and other supports to accomplish equity goals.
Fresno Unified has seen an increase in philanthropic investment through this grant and others, such as the Packard Foundation. To encourage continued philanthropic investment, Fresno Unified has taken steps to establish its own 501(c)(3) organization, The Foundation for Fresno Unified Schools. A press conference will be scheduled at a later date to launch The Foundation for Fresno Unified Schools.
“We are honored to have been selected for this important work of strengthening our principal pipeline with a focus on the specific impact of school leaders on our diverse students,” said Superintendent Bob Nelson.