SAN FRANCISCO — San Francisco has been chosen as one of two cities nationally to receive the $500,OOO New Day for Learning grant from the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation to support new and existing
efforts to create expanded and engaging learning environments for the city's students.

The San Francisco School Alliance, an independent civic organization dedicated to quality public education in the city, is the fiscal agent and lead implement the three-year New Day for Learning initiative that will build on efforts to ensure that all young people in San Francisco are prepared for success in school, work and life in the 21st century. The new initiative will focus on preparing students beyond learning in classrooms through work-learning experiences, community service projects and after-school programs.

"There is enormous potential because of a convergence of leadership in San Francisco, to build a new model for innovative school-community partnerships and educational initiatives that engage all of our young people, especially for those children and young people who are now most at risk in our neighborhoods," stated Cynthia Guyer, Executive Director of the San Francisco School Alliance.

"The Mott Foundation's support comes at a critical time and will allow San Francisco the opportunity to further leverage the extraordinary resources in our City, bringing in businesses, city agencies, the School District, and community organizations to create comprehensive and relevant new learning environments for our youth," said Mayor Gavin Newsom.

The Mott Foundation chose 10 New Day for Learning Communities from a highly selective pool of applicants. Within that 10, San Francisco and Providence, Rhode Island were tapped as demonstration sites each receiving $500,000 grants and tailored technical assistance. The other eight cities: Atlanta, Charleston, Chicago, Denver, Flint (MI), Omaha, Peekskill (NY) and Saint Paul (MN) will receive technical assistance for their emerging initiatives.

"The funding provided by the Mott Foundation is just what we need to help see us through our collective efforts to make this a city where our children thrive," said Superintendent Carlos Garcia. "We all have a vested interest and shared responsibility in realizing our vision for education."

In San Francisco and around the country, there is a growing sense of urgency around the need to transform the way communities approach education and learning in order to dramatically improve the educational outcomes of young people. With the nation's economic crisis and massive budget cuts to education, a New Day for Learning aims to craft bold new strategies and partnerships for learning that keep students engaged, in school, and ready for college, citizenship and the workforce.

"Each one of us plays a unique and essential role in improving outcomes for all young people," said An-Me Chung, Program Officer for the C. S. Mott Foundation. "Particularly in this economy, it will take partnerships between schools, communities, students, parents, elected officials, educators, business leaders, and others to realize a new vision for education in America."

A New Day for Learning in San Francisco will start with intensive work with two cadres of schools and their communities. The first cadre will be selected for the 2009-2010 school year, with a focus on the city's Communities of Opportunity neighborhoods serving families and children in the four areas of the city with the highest poverty and greatest need.

About a New Day for Learning
In 2007, leaders in education, after school and business serving on the Mott Foundation New Day for Learning Advisory Board issued a report of the same name to catalyze conversations, raise awareness and spark solutions for creating a comprehensive, seamless approach to learning in the United States. To learn more and see a New Day for Learning in action, visit NewDayforLearning.org.