Redwood City Education Foundation - CA

Last updated on June 17, 2008

The Redwood City Education Foundation's (RCEF) vision for the future sees students, parents, and the community at large all benefiting from our work to improve Redwood City's public schools.

The purpose of the RCEF is to enrich educational opportunities for the students in the communities served by the Redwood City Elementary School District (RCSD).

The RCEF is an all volunteer, community-based education foundation. We raise funds to help pay for enrichment activities for the students in the kindergarten through eighth grade RSCD. We work closely with the School District to ensure that the academic, music and art, and wellness programs we support meet the needs of our children.

Our theme, Better Schools, Brighter Future, means that we are dedicated to helping our children grow up to be engaged, successful citizens. Working together as a community, we can make it happen.

Description:
Our funding is targeted to support academic, music and art, and wellness programs that are no longer covered by government funding. Studies show that high-quality enrichment programs like these can make the difference between mediocre and outstanding schools.

Academic Programs:

Kindergarten Assessment and "Bridges to Kindergarten" -This program determines each student’s school readiness and identifies students for the Bridge program. Readiness assessments are used by teachers and principals to balance the kindergarten rooms for skills and abilities, making the first year of school a success for all. The Bridge program begins before the first day of school and focuses on helping students get used to the fundamentals of classroom behavior and expectations.

Leap Pad Reading Intervention - Building on the success of a school district pilot program, RCEF is providing the Leap Pad Learning System™ to all our elementary schools. Schools across the District are now using the LeapPads to help students gain and improve literacy skills. The RCEF is accepting gently used Leap Pads; you can drop them off at your school library, or contact us for alternative locations.

Outdoor Education - The RCEF provides funding for a district coordinator and scholarships for Outdoor Education. 1,000 fifth grade students benefit from a week-long academic program in the Santa Cruz mountains, exploring the environment and developing their skills in all curricular areas, including science, mathematics, and language arts.
Staff Development Stipends - We provide $1,000 stipends to teachers who are pursuing National Board Certification. National Board Certification is the highest credential in the teaching profession. A voluntary process, certification is achieved through a rigorous performance-based assessment that takes between one and three years to complete and measures what accomplished teachers should know and be able to do using instructional methods such as differentiated learning.

Music and Art Programs:

Music for Learning - Music for Learning is a comprehensive music education program for all second through fourth grade students throughout the school district. This interactive program uses rhythm, singing, listening, performing, and activities that lead to reading, understanding and appreciating music. Trained music educators provide the program and the curriculum is based on the state’s Visual and Performing Arts Framework for California Public Schools. This program is offered in partnership with Music for Minors.

Music is Instrumental - The RCEF provides funds to support instrumental music instruction for all the middle school programs in the district. We also accept donations of used instruments in good condition.

Wellness Programs:

Wellness Coordinator - Starting in the 2006/7 school year, the RCEF began funding a new position in the Redwood City School District—a Wellness Coordinator. This individual coordinates programs across the District aimed at helping our 8,000 students develop healthy habits and become stronger learners. The Wellness Coordinator also furthers the goals of the newly adopted District Wellness Policy.

History:
1983 RESCUE (Redwood City Elementary Schools United Effort) is formed to focused on libraries, computers, and classroom enrichment.

1985-1991 Funrichment, after-school enrichment classes, are funded for a total of 64 classes and 1,000 participants.

1992-1995 The Outdoor Education program is saved and supported through district-wide T-Shirt sales.

1996 Innovative Teaching Mini-grant program is introduced.

1997 RESCUE renamed as Redwood City Education Foundation.

1996-2005 Music for Learning for grades 2-4 is funded and district instrumental music program supported.

2005 Emergency fundraising campaign to restore key district programs raises more than $100,000.

2006 Wellness Coordinator position is funded. Wellness programs are quickly developed and implemented and receive district wide recognition for their immediacy and relevance.

2007 RCEF breaks its own fundraising record and parnters with key corporate sponsors and foundations such as Oracle, Wells Fargo Bank, the Kaiser Foundation, and the Westly Foundation, to name a few.

Contact person: Jo-Ann Sockolov, Board President, (phone), (email)
Main office number: (650) 568-0233

Address:

P.O. Box 3046
Redwood City, CA 94064

Web Site: http://www.rcef.org

Miscellaneous Information

Besides English, which languages are spoken at your agency?

Spanish

What is the minimum age for volunteers at your agency?

18

Is your agency wheelchair accessible?

Yes

Does your agency have the capacity to host groups of more than 10?

Yes

Does your agency have the capacity to host groups of more than 20?

Yes

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