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| Foundation for Oklahoma City Public Schools | |
|---|---|
| Name | Foundation for Oklahoma City Public Schools |
| Type | Nonprofit |
| Founded | 1988 |
| Location | Oklahoma City, Oklahoma |
| Area served | Oklahoma City Public Schools |
| Focus | Educational support, scholarships, teacher grants |
Foundation for Oklahoma City Public Schools is a nonprofit organization that supports Oklahoma City Public Schools, Edmond Public Schools collaborations, and broader Oklahoma educational initiatives through grants, scholarships, and partnerships. The foundation operates alongside institutions such as Oklahoma City University, University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma State University, Oklahoma City Community College, and civic bodies like the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber to advance student achievement and teacher effectiveness.
The foundation was established in 1988 amid local initiatives involving Mayor of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma City Council, United Way of Central Oklahoma, KIPP Public Charter Schools, and neighborhood associations to address disparities seen in districts like Capitol Hill High School and Northwest Classen High School. Early collaborations included program pilots with Oklahoma State Department of Education, Anadarko Public Schools, Muscogee (Creek) Nation educational offices, and philanthropic entities such as the Kirkpatrick Foundation and Harold Hamm Foundation. Over subsequent decades the foundation intersected with campaigns led by figures and organizations including Brad Henry, Mary Fallin, George Kaiser Family Foundation, Oklahoma City Public Schools Superintendent offices, and national partners like Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and The Walton Family Foundation to scale teacher grant programs and scholarship funds.
The foundation's mission aligns with goals promoted by Common Core State Standards Initiative, Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, and community initiatives such as Beyond School Hours to increase college readiness and educator retention. Core programs include teacher grant awards similar to models used by DonorsChoose, scholarship funds named in honor of local leaders and teachers connected to Classen School of Advanced Studies, and outreach programs that mirror practices from Teach For America and City Year. Programs extend to early childhood initiatives coordinated with Head Start (United States), summer learning partnerships with Oklahoma City Museum of Art, and STEM pipelines linked to Oklahoma Science and Mathematics Education Coalition and S.T.E.M. advocates.
Governance is provided by a volunteer board reflecting civic leadership from entities such as Chesapeake Energy Corporation, Devon Energy Corporation, SandRidge Energy, The Oklahoman publishing leadership, and legal advisors from firms like Hall Estill. Executive leadership has historically worked alongside superintendents from Oklahoma City Public Schools and academic leaders from University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center and Oklahoma City University to align strategy with district priorities. Advisory councils include representatives from Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce, Greater Oklahoma City Public Schools Foundation, and local philanthropy networks including Philanthropy Oklahoma.
Financial support is drawn from corporate donors such as ONEOK, Paycom, Hobby Lobby, and family foundations including Kaiser Foundation and Jeannine Rainbolt Charitable Foundation, as well as individual donors connected to business leaders like Harold Hamm and Tom Love. The foundation leverages grant-making models used by National School Boards Association partners and receives competitive awards from entities like U.S. Department of Education grant programs and regional funders including Oklahoma City Community Foundation. Annual reports reference collaborations with accounting firms and auditors comparable to PricewaterhouseCoopers and Grant Thornton for fiscal oversight and compliance with nonprofit standards promoted by Council on Foundations.
Partnerships span educational providers and civic institutions including Oklahoma City Public Library, Oklahoma City Police Department community programs, arts partners like Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma, and health partners such as Oklahoma City-County Health Department. The foundation engages corporate volunteer programs from BancFirst, MidFirst Bank, and Tinker Air Force Base personnel, and collaborates with workforce development initiatives affiliated with Oklahoma Employment Security Commission and Greater Oklahoma City Chamber to prepare students for regional careers in energy, aviation, and healthcare sectors dominated by Sonic Drive-In and Integris Health employers.
Measured outcomes reported by the foundation include increased scholarship awards tied to college enrollment metrics used by National Student Clearinghouse, teacher retention improvements mirroring findings from RAND Corporation studies, and enhanced classroom resources following grant distributions similar to impacts documented by Brookings Institution. The foundation's initiatives contributed to localized gains in graduation rates at campuses such as Santa Fe South High School and Classen School of Advanced Studies, broader college-going patterns in Oklahoma County, and strengthened pipelines into institutions like University of Central Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University–Stillwater.
Category:Education foundations in the United States Category:Non-profit organizations based in Oklahoma Category:Organizations established in 1988